Sadhana Mishra
Birthplace:
Kendujhar, Odisha
Residence:
Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
Qualification:
M.A. (Social Work)
Inspiration:
Parents Rama Mani Mishra and Indra Mani Mishra
TITULAR TRAILBLAZER
Her life is marked by many ‘firsts’, many achievements behind each of which is a story of grit ideals and compassion…
As a young student, Sadhana became the first from her remote village in the Kendujhar district to study in a city college. Later in 2017, she became the first in her state to obtain a passport under the transgender category. It’s the time between these two achievements where the story of pain, grit, determination and victories was scripted.
A scared little child
Born on 10 June 1984 to a conservative and deeply traditional Brahmin family, Sadhana, then named Satya Sundar, was a cute and shy boy who would tremble if spoken to loudly. The youngest of four siblings, she was the apple of her father’s eye. “My mother always told me I was special.” But as she grew up, her family began killing her desire to dress up like girls or to play with dolls. “They even forced me to change the way I would use the washroom.” Sadhana began doubting herself while trying hard not to be consumed by the chaos and conflict within. Unable to express herself, she found solace and hope in education, singing and dancing.
“Adolescence was a particularly difficult time as my orientation changed. There was no support or counselling and I kept myself engaged in studies and hobbies.” In classes 9 and 10, she began tutoring small children – her first step towards self-reliance and sharing her gift of education with others.
Despite being a meritorious student, Sadhana was pushed to take up Arts in college, which she later realised was a blessing in disguise. She completed her postgraduation in Social Work in 2004 and was interning in Gujarat when she came in touch with Lakshya Trust, co-founded by Manvendrasinh Gohil, India’s first openly gay prince. This was the road she had been looking for all these years. Here, she understoond who she was and learnt the true expanse of the transgender world.
Sadhana immersed herself in the work of the HIV AIDS Alliance, UNDP, became a master trainer at NACO and in the process, began to better understand the kinner culture. “It’s a rich value system, contrary to public belief that kinners are alms seekers or dancers. Each member of this well-knit community is free to choose his or her profession. Why people see us in undignified professions is because of discrimination. This is changing gradually,” she says.
Sadhana was one of the agents of this change. “I was okay with wearing anklets, but not with clapping, begging or dancing for livelihood. I promised myself that I would change the culture and its perception. Torchbearers like Laxmi Narayan Tripathi led the way along with Meera Parida, Manvendrasinh Gohil, Sylvester Merchant and Achyuta Samanta.”
Samanta’s Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) appointed her as its social development officer, making her the first transwoman in Odisha to be appointed to a large educational institution.
Sadhana–Meera ki jodi
On Laxmi’s advice, Sadhana returned to Odisha in 2006 and associated herself with several grassroots organisations. The opposition she faced only fuelled her fire and she joined hands with a noted transgender activist and a dear friend, Meera Parida. Thus Sakha (Sanskrit for friend), Odisha’s first LGBT CBO, was born.
Together, they started focusing on education and overall inclusiveness and not just awareness and gender sensitisation.
“We have been in it together. Our families shut us out, and we faced a huge social uproar, getting our CBO registered became an uphill task, but it has all been worth it. Thousands of transgender children have been kicked out by their families. We both are their mothers. Our families had once disowned us. Now, we head one large family, and no member will ever have to face any difficulty.”
In 2016, Sadhana was the first transgender person from India to be invited to the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a life-changing experience. The visit discriminated against transgenders in India seem even more pronounced. “Here, I felt like a part of the mainstream society, almost like a celebrity. The more I interacted with my audiences in the USA, the more welcomed I felt.”
Sadhana returned more empowered and more committed. In 2017, she received the Human Rights Council of India’s Human Achiever Award and was certified by the Central Vigilance Commission of India. The next year, she won the Press Club of India’s Bharat Shri Award, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Chinta O Chetana Baishakhi Award and the National Human Welfare Council’s Youth Icon Award. In 2021, she won the Path Breaker Award by the Gaurav Trust and the World Women’s Organisation.
She became the first transgender person coordinator for a news channel in Odisha and currently coordinates and anchors a TV show on the regional Kalinga TV.
Thanks to Sakha and her efforts, Odisha is today India’s most gender-inclusive state with LGBT members working as private cab drivers, parking attendants and municipal tax collectors and taking an active part in politics. “Much has happened, but a lot more remains. Soon, we will see transgender persons reaching every sector.”
Education, awareness and Section 377
Sadhana cannot emphasise enough the importance of education for the community. Equally important is awareness. With KISS as the perfect platform, she is reaching out to a vast student community nationally as a guest lecturer speaking on management, social sciences and gender.
To her, repealing IPC Section 377 has made no real difference, because the community had already proved itself before this decision. “But thanks to the move, the community has received support on identity documentation and their presence has been recognised. Other than that, it has made no personal difference.”
VISION FOR THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
“The community has set an example by doing more than what was required to be seen, heard and recognised. It’s time that it all comes to fruition.”
Sadhana’s vision is to see a day when no transgender child ends up on the streets or in shelter homes. She hopes for a future where there is no discrimination or harassment, there is 100% education for transgender people and they get equal employment opportunities, which in turn, will address the issue of poverty and keep community members off unwanted or undignified means of livelihood. She also hopes that the age limit for transgender people in government jobs is raised to 38. “Social mainstreaming and economic well-being are important. Every member should be able to live with their heads held high.”
MESSAGE FOR THE MAINSTREAM SOCIETY
It’s not just empathy, but also stronger policies that will bring about the change. Workplace inclusions should be more than token diversity hires, she says, and demands opportunities, respect and rights.
“We thank the central government for its rights-based inclusion approach and for establishing the requisite departments. We have set Odisha as an example for other states to follow.”
There should be love, she says citing the example of transgender children. “If their parents accept them, they will not have to battle depression, nor will they contemplate suicide. Having said that, we are seeing a gradual change. It feels nice to receive calls from parents asking for guidance on their transgender kids. This is a glimmer of hope for me. It feels that what we have been fighting for has had some value, even if in small measure.” Sadhana wants mainstream society to learn from the bonding within the LGBTQIA+ community. “Take my example. I am not alone despite being a so-called social outcast. The whole community will gather the day I pass on.”
Sadhana also has some life lessons. “Smile and make others around you smile. Be so happy that life itself gets inspired by you.”
Her name means tapasya (Sanskrit for penance) and we believe she lives it well.
FIVE FACTS ABOUT SADHANA
Sadhana is multilingual; she can speak Hindi, English, Gujarati, Tamil and Telugu.
She oves to cook. Her speciality is mutton curry cooked using hand-ground spices.
The late Lata Mangeshkar is her favourite singer.
“The thick kohl lining my eyes has stopped many a tear from rolling down.” She loves her kohl.
Being emotional is both her strength and her weakness.
