At 17, she took matters into her own hands and chose a difficult path to change to match an identity - of a woman - rather than a gender – as a man. Today, Gauri Sawant is a transgender activist, and the founder director of NGO Sakhi Char Chowghi. After she was featured in an ad for adopting a sex worker's daughter, she suddenly found herself in the spotlight, but still struggles with many aspects of this newfound popularity. The lady, who was appointed the goodwill ambassador of the Election Commission in Maharashtra, has only one expectation of her adopted daughter Gayatri – that she be a good human being. Sawant knows that the values she has instilled in her daughter will enable her to respect each and every human being. Today, she has expanded her scope of care to taking care of nine girls. Here, she narrates her story.
“I lost my mother at a very young age. Post her death, my father stopped talking to me. I know that he loved me, but he started ignoring me after Mom's passing because children in our housing society used to tease me, calling me gay. Probably he, being a police officer, could not digest that fact. It was his dream that, since his older kid, my elder sister, was a part of the force, his son would be too.
“In Pune, where we were stationed, my father went to get a tiffin for dinner every night. I still vividly remember the chain of events of the evening that turned my life around. We had an EC brand television set at home, and, that evening, I saw 360 on it. I picked up the money and ran away from home. That was my first tryst with freedom.
Denne historien er fra October 2021-utgaven av Femina.
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Denne historien er fra October 2021-utgaven av Femina.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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REVIVING TRADITIONS
ASHA PATIL, founder of Banjara Kasuti, speaks to Nida Khan on how her social enterprise is transforming lives by preserving Lambani embroidery and empowering women artisans
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
Leading the Indian women's hockey team into a new era, captain SALIMA TETE speaks to Kayal Arivalan about her journey and upcoming challenges
LOOK BEYOND
Thinking of a career in the humanities? Rishma Shah shares interesting options you might not have considered
THE ZILLENNIALS' GUIDE TO FITTING IN
Being at the workspace as a “zillennial” (yes, that lovely bridge between millennials and Gen Z) can feel like a balancing act. On the one hand, you’re expected to understand TikTok trends; on the other, you need to know what a fax machine does (seriously, they still exist). But fear not! Here’s a guide to help you find your groove at work.
TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH
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MOVING PAST THE 'ICK'
Ravina M Sachdev decodes that cringe feeling you try hard to shake off when you really like someone
THRIVE IN YOUR SINGLENESS
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CARVING OUT HER OWN PATH
VASUKI PUNJ talks to Ravina M Sachdev about her journey in the field of law and switching careers in COVID-19
CRAFTING INDIAN LUXURY
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10 EASY WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR HOME
Transform your home for the new year with these easy home styling tips.