Emboldened by the Supreme Court’s verdict decriminalising homosexuality, the first transgender State cadre civil servant of Odisha has announced plans to marry.
Aishwarya Rutuparna Pradhan, 34, an officer of the Odisha Finance Service (OFS), had volunteered to be recognised as belonging to the third gender, after the Supreme Court recognised transgenders as the third gender in 2014.
The government had to issue a gazette notification to change her identity from male to third gender.
Making no secret of her personal life, Ms. Pradhan said her two-year-old live-in relationship would now culminate in marriage.
She hopes to adopt a baby, if the law allows it.
Struggle, success
As a transgender person, her life has been one of both struggle and success.
She said, “I was subjected to all kinds of cruel jokes. During my college days, my classmates would often undress me to know my gender identity. At university, I was physically assaulted in hostel. But I did not leave my studies midway.”
Journalism student
She studied journalism at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, but did not pursue journalism as a career.
She cleared the Odisha Civil Services examination in 2010.
In 2016, she found her partner, a self-employed person. “Our relationship remained under wraps as it was viewed as a criminal act. When the apex court delivered the historic judgement, I considered it my freedom. Now I can proudly say I will begin a family life after marrying my partner next year,” she said.
