Ramya Narayanam Giri
Birthplace:
Delhi
Residence:
Delhi
Qualification:
Graduation
Inspiration:
Her gurus, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Yamini Krishnamurty and Chanderamani ji
DANCING HER WAY TO THE TOP – WITH DIGNITY
A lady with varied interests in the field of arts, dance and crafts, she has seen the ups and downs in life and has fought them well on her own terms.
Ramya Narayanam Giri, the name she chose for herself, has an interesting story behind it. It was during her Bharatanatyam classes that she made friends with a similar name and on searching she found it was a rare one. The Narayanam is inspired from Lord Vishu’s other name, Narayan, and Giri being her surname; she chose Ramya.
Born in 1995 as Rahul, Ramya’s life has had its store of ups and downs. Her early remembrance is of her wanting to play with girls, spending time with them and be like them. She spent a lot of her early years in temples doing her bit for society.
That did make her lonely in an all-boys’ school till she met a few more people like her and they became close friends.
What helped was they used to perform on stages in the school plays and the teachers backed them. While most of the teachers and the principal protected and supported them against any bullying, a few teachers weren’t too happy with them, picking them out for punishments… Just like her parents!
Her parents too were not happy with her dancing, often asking her why she would want to be a nachaniya – a derogatory Hindi word for a dancer.
In class 8, she came to know of an NGO and would often visit it with her friends, where they were made aware of what they were going through and were also coached about AIDS and its prevention.
She later got her ears pierced and her family noticed – fearing she would become a hijra, they beat her up. They relented in her choice of learning to dance but not these ‘girlish’ antics. Her brother, who was her constant support, also told her to not ‘go the wrong way’.
When in class 12, she was made the in-charge of the cultural department during which some boys tried to defame her. “The principal supported me and so did the teachers. That was important as I was keen to have an education.”
She then joined the BalBhavan where she did a course on Bharatanatyam and also used her spare time to learn art and craft, and did extra classes to learn clay work, Kathak and acting.
The distance being considerable, she had to take a train – often crowded. She once had a minor accident while barely managing to find space in the train, hardly hanging at the gates. A fellow passenger, a lady and a boy helped her and gave her some money for her to visit a doctor. “I then thought humanity wasn’t dead. People had just helped a hijra! People were still sensitive!” The exhilaration then is evident in her voice till date – 12 years later.
She went on to study stitching and fashion designing in college.
Acquiring skills
After completing her Bharatnatyam course, she acted in religious celebrations, like Ramlila, Janmashtami tableau, etc., to earn her livelihood. Besides, she made extra money through her stitching and designing. “I dream of a small boutique, not just to design but also to spread whatever little knowledge I have about transgenders and create gender acceptance so that everyone, without any gender discrimination, can learn.”
In 2014, something brought her to join the transgender community in Rajasthan when she did what every transgender person does, attended familial events, blessed and danced for alms. But within a short while, she realised it was not what she wanted to do and she quit. She met some influential people who encouraged and guided her to betterment. “Thanks to them, I enrolled in HIV-support group too in Delhi.”
In 2015, she got involved with the Samarth clinic’s Prayas project and helped spread awareness regarding HIV and its impact on health. She helped empower the transgender community members during this project. And it has now become an on-going journey – she has toured Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam helping her community members. She also opened up to her mother, who told her to not reveal it in their native village.
In 2016, she attended a three-day meet in O.P. Jindal University and learnt about the law and rights and duties for transgender people. “It was as if I gathered strength from within, felt more powerful and empowered.” It was even more heartening that she got her first certificate with her adopted name.
Righteousness has always been her key. In 2018, she joined the Delhi Civil Defence where she had to oversee and ensure safety of the crowd during festivities and helping Yamuna flood victims. Later, she joined the district magistrate’s office as a temporary employee. After her tenure, she checked with the office if she could get a permanent role. She was told she would be posted in the permanent list striking off another name, to which she objected. “I wanted what was due to me and not hit by someone in the stomach.” Things were sorted out and she was enrolled permanently. She fulfilled her dreams with Ira Sehgal’s (IAS) support and encouragement.
Trekking expedition
In 2020, she was invited to join a group of transgender people on a mountaineering expedition. “I was among the top 5 to scale it – an enriching and confidence-boosting exercise.”
Ramya did not confine herself to one role. She also took acting classes and was part of a Zee TV show, Zindagi ki Mehak, representing the community. That apart, she now regularly participates in theatre.
A lot of what she is today, she credits to her dancer gurus and gurus from the transgender community, like Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, who’s presence she finds very inspiring, Gori guru ji who has helped her sail through, Shri O.P. Sharma and Shrimati Sanyogita. She remembers being overwhelmed when she met Laxmi guru ji for the very first time at a show in Delhi. “I was all giggly when she said, ‘I thought I was tall, but you are taller than me.’ I am 6ft 5in.”
While she agrees that she has had the benefit of being the latest generation of transgender people. Section 377 was discussed and scrapped when she was still young and had started exploring the world on her own. She agrees that society is changing gradually. “A lot of them now do not look at us as if we are doing something wrong. A few, though, will never change and there’s nothing to be done about them. Whatever rights we have achieved now is one step at a time. Soon people will understand the community better.”
For that to happen, she says, things must begin at schools – making transgender kids equal to every other student. Teachers should be sensitised who in turn can easily sensitise parents.
Ramya concludes, “Transgender people are invited to bless at happy events, but not considered equals. That needs to change”. The pressing needs, she says, are safe travels, jobs, education and separate washrooms. “Begin there; the remaining will follow,” she says confidently. The community needs equal rights. “Like women have been given many rights with time, we too should be provided with it.”
VISION FOR THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
Equal participation with everyone else – without any discrimination. Equal treatment meted out to any other person. “After transitioning, I identify as a female. Can I get to live like a woman, feel happy for things that every other lady does? Am I asking for too much?”
She adds, “In the current scenario, we can’t give up but believe in ourselves and build ourselves”.
MESSAGE FOR THE MAINSTREAM SOCIETY
Society needs to stop generalising and judging the entire community. “Treat us like human beings.”
But all this, she repeats, begins in childhood for which parents need to understand transgender humans first. “Every child is different, emotionally, mentally, physically. Please listen to your kids if they try to tell you something. Please do not treat them as if they have done something bad. Love them and nurture them and help them grow.”
FIVE FACTS ABOUT RAMYA
Her strength is in her mind and confidence.
Her weakness is her anger, though she’s learning to manage it.
She loves kheer and anything that has paneer in it.
She loves the bold and beautiful, Sushmita Sen
She is a self-made person.
