Building bridges

Human Rights activist Kalki returns from the US, determined to improve the lives of transgenders, writes Akila Kannadasan

As part of a community that has routinely faced discrimination, Kalki is all praise for the American Rule of Law that is strongly against discrimination of any kind.

Transgender rights activist Kalki Subramaniam is brimming with ideas to take her crusade forward. Back from a trip to the U.S. as part of the International Visitor Leadership programme sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Kalki is now looking at her cause from a whole new perspective.

“The programme was an eye-opener in more ways than one,” she says. “The U.S. consulate short listed six emerging human rights activists from countries such as India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Tajikistan. Two of us were invited from India.”

Kalki was joined by sociology lecturer Musarrath Banu from Al-Ameen Arts, Science and Commerce College, Bangalore, Mohammad Hasan, Coordinator of Community Development Centre Al-Falah, Bangladesh, Mohammad Hadi Marifat, Founder and Director of Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organisation (AHRDO), Ambar Bdr Hajariya, District Coordinator of Dalit NGO Federation (DNF), Nepal and Zulfikor Zamonov, Head of Analytical Development, Bureau of Human Rights, Tajikistan.

“Apart form building a mutual understanding between the U.S. and the host countries, the programme aimed at fostering cultural sharing, human rights efficacy and awareness. Knowledge sharing was facilitated – now I'm aware of how a majority of human rights activists function.” says Kalki.

“We travelled across the U.S. for 12 days, meeting representatives of various organisations such as the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the High Road for Human Rights and New York City commission of Human Rights.

“Human Rights Watch is an organisation that maintains records of human rights violations across the globe – they even have reports on untouchability in India and police violence in Bihar,” she says.

As part of a community that has routinely faced discrimination, Kalki is all praise for the American Rule of Law that is strongly against discrimination of any kind. “Americans are very tolerant and open when it comes to issues related to an individual's sexual orientation. They observe a National Coming out Day every year on October 11 when the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community come out with their friends and parents to reveal their sexual identity. It is a day of celebration. We got to meet a lot of parents who have come to terms with their children's sexual orientation. I realised that there is so much progress going on in the U.S. with regards to LGBT rights. The Obama government is all for it.”

Survival matters

Kalki stresses on the support of parents for the well-being of transgenders. “There is a research suggesting that chances of an LGBT individual committing suicide are 350% higher if faced with rejection by parents. Thanks to ‘artificial families' like ‘Jamaath', the transgender population of our country is managing to survive,” she says.

“The programme gave me a lot of pointers for my human rights advocacy work. I have now decided to lobby for legal rights for transgenders. I've realised how important education is for individuals abandoned by their families. From 2011, my focus will be on education and legal recognition of our community,” concludes Kalki confidently.

Kalki, along with transgender activist Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi has been invited for consultation on behalf of minority groups for the 12th five year plan of the Planning Commission of India.