‘Prathibha Thilakam’ winner Sanjana a guiding light for trans community

Kochi: For Sanjana Chandran, dance is a means of empowerment and a tool that provides opportunities to explore new avenues. Sanjana, a final-year Bharatanatyam student at St Teresa’s College, has not only carved a niche for herself in the world of performing arts but also emerged as a beacon of hope for the transgender community.

For the third consecutive year, Sanjana secured the ‘Prathibha Thilakam’ title, an award recognising excellence in arts for transgender students, at the recently concluded Mahatma Gandhi (MG) University arts festival Dastak. This year, she outshone competitors across genders, scoring the highest points in the week-long festival. She secured first place in Kuchipudi, folk dance and classical music. She also bagged second place in Bharatanatyam and light music.

“I am happy for this opportunity,” Sanjana told TOI. “Although I practise all classical dance forms, my specialisation is in Bharatanatyam. I hope to continue participating in such events and pushing my artistic boundaries.”

Beyond her personal triumphs, Sanjana’s true legacy lies in her efforts to uplift fellow transgender individuals through dance. Between her rigorous training and academic commitments, Sanjana also trains over 20 transgender students, several of whom competed alongside her at Dastak. For her, it is not just about winning accolades but about creating a platform for others like her to thrive.

“The stigma against the community is gradually declining, and we are seeing more trans individuals making their mark in public life,” she said. However, she acknowledges that discrimination persists. “Many colleges still hesitate to send trans students to arts festivals. While there has been progress, full acceptance remains a distant goal.” Despite these challenges, Sanjana found unwavering support from St Teresa’s College, which not only welcomed her as a student but also waived her course fees entirely.

In 2021, Sanjana was honoured with Natwar Gopikrishna National Award for Bharatanatyam. The following year she received best artist award from social justice department. She has also played a pivotal role in ‘Malaikottai Valiban’.

Courtesy: Times of India

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