“I’m proud of Being Trans”: Arnavi Sharma
Aman Zutshi
Jammu: Arnavi Sharma has given an exclusive interview to JK Media. They are studying Performing Arts from University, has done BA in English Hons and is J&K’s first trans-artist. Arnavi is the first person to be nominated by the election commission as representative for the third gender and first one to also receive the Maharaja Hari Singh lifetime achievement award.
Interacting with JK Media, Arnavi said, “There is nothing wrong being a transgender. Some are males and some are woman but we have features of both just like Shiva and Shakti.
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“Our vagina is a symbol of Ardhnareshwar and it is consider as scared. I’m proud being a Transgender.
“I’m so glad that I born this way. I was nine-year-old when I realised that I’m a trans woman. My features vocals, walk was girlish.
“My parents used to ask me why I’m acting like girls because for them I was a boy. I thought why they’re not accepting me because of my girl-like-characteristics.
“When I told my parents to accept me the way I’m they apprised me to change my conduct and I feel like crying when I remember those days.
“My relatives and people bullied me but some relatives also supported me. My Guru Ma Sonia and my trans gender community supported me when I met them.
“They encouraged to get education. My Guru Ma backed me alot”, Arnavi asserted.
“I have done BA in English and currently doing graduation in performing arts. Kavya is the first trans gender student and I’m the first Trans artist in J&K.
“I’m immensely proud that people from our community are attaining high positions in different fields. We want people to support us and give us opportunities.
“My institution cordially accepted and told me I’m just like other students. My teachers and my friend Shruti Sharma supported me alot.
“We are five girls in our class and I have never felt that I’m different from them. I have faced immense amount of harassment and bullying.
“When I was in 7th class my classmates coercively opened my uniform knickers. They stuck chewing gum on my hairs and locked me in bathroom. I kept weeping there.
“When I complained about the incident to my teachers they told me that the students are trying to correct me but what is there to correct me.
“The teachers didn’t cared to help me even after seeing my plight. I have faced alot and all these things pushed me to do something to show the world we also exist.
“My mother and sister is very supportive of me but my father is not. I sustain myself by teaching, singing in jagrans.
“I live with my family”, Arnavi added.
