Truth Behind The Curtain: A Study Of The Marginalized Voices Of An Indian Transwoman In ‘A Gift Of Goddess Lakshmi’

Abstract

Gender equality is still a big question in the Indian society. Though the Indian society has shown immense growth while the marginalized communities are still struggling for their identity. Transgender people have a gender identity that differs from their assigned sex at birth, they experience gender dysphoria, a distressing condition caused by the incongruence between one’s gender identity and one’s anatomy. Transwoman is a woman who is born as male but explore her identity as female.She feels that  she is trapped in a wrong body. She goes for medical transition to identify her sex which includes feminizing hormone therapy, transgender voice therapy and gender- affirming surgery. She faces challenges in obtaining essential civic documentation, such as birth certificates, voter IDs, or passports due to rigid adherence of these documents to a binary gender classification system. The lack of proper documentation further exacerbated their marginalization within the broader society and deprived them from basic fundamental rights and vitally important services. Transgender individuals have been an indispensable part of the Indian society. Historically they have been regarded as semi-divine beings who has the ability to bestow blessings or inflict curses.Transwomen in India face numerous challenges in their day-to-day life, starting from their basic education to their employment has become challenging. They undergo traumatic experiences both external and internal throughout the journey of their lives. The molestation they face and the insecure life they live have made their life challenging. The feeling of living and working in safe environment has become a sturdy task. They seek validation of their gender identity and validation of being accepted as a ‘normal’ woman who can live a normal life just like any other woman who falls in love and live a settled life with a man.

The paper explores the marginalized voices of Indian transwomen, particularly through the lens of the book “A Gift of Goddess Lakshmi.” This book, written by Manobi Bandyopadhyay, is an autobiography that delves into the life and struggles of a transwoman in India.The book provides a poignant narrative of Manobi’s journey, highlighting the societal challenges, discrimination, and personal triumphs she faced. It serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and courage of transwomen in India, shedding light on their experiences and the systemic issues they encounter.The paper aims to how gender, caste, and class intersect in the lives of Indian transwomen. It also analyzes the societal attitudes towards transwomen and the impact of these attitudes on their lives.It highlights the ways in which transwomen navigate and resist societal norms to assert their identities.