Story of transgender principal: Used to be a girl at home, had to become a boy for the world

India’s first transgender college principal, Manabi Bandyopadhyay: Living life as a transgender is not that easy. We are going to tell you the story of one such transgender, who not only did PhD on the basis of her struggles, but also became the principal of the college on the basis of her talent, but the struggle behind it was no less. It was not easy to stay at home as a girl and to go out as a boy.

WRITTEN BY :Farha Fatima

India’s first transgender college principal: This is the story of Manabi Bandyopadhyay, a transgender from West Bengal. Who became the college principal after studying. It is also very difficult for the male female gender to understand that how difficult it is to be successful while studying while being transgender. In June 2015, she became the college principal of Krishnanagar Women’s College in Nadia district. She was the first transgender to achieve this feat. The transgender’s childhood was also spent in Nadia district, where he faced a lot of humiliation.

Story of transgender principal

Threats given to father as well

Manabi Bandopadhyay took a lot of trouble in life. Manabi fought a long battle against being ignored. Due to her gender, along with Manabi, her father was also threatened. After a long battle, he returned home with pride and honour. Manabi preferred feminine habits since childhood and when she started showing signs of being a girl, she got upset. They wanted him to work and earn, as he was the only son among two sisters.

At home women have to wear pants and shirts on the streets.

Manabi had just completed her schooling at that time. He decided to go to a psychiatrist to fight the dilemma. But psychiatrists told her to forget about it. I was a woman at home, but on the streets I had to wear pants and shirts and behave like a man, Manabi told The Guardian. It was sad and humiliating, but I had no choice.

MA in Bengali after all obstacles

In 2003, he mustered up the courage to undergo a sex-change operation, which cost Rs 5 lakh. After a long and continuous process, going through several counseling sessions, Manabi finally felt free. Understood the importance of education and put all his strength in studies. After many hindrances completed MA in Bengali.

Became the college principal of Krishnanagar Women’s College in 2015

She also became the first transgender to complete PhD in West Bengal. When Manabi applied to Vivekananda Centenary College in Jhargram, she was forced to apply as a male lecturer. Soon, she became a lecturer, and was still the first transgender to do so. In 2015, Nadia became the college principal of Krishnanagar Women’s College in the district.

Courtesy: News 18

Note: This news piece was originally published in news18.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights