I was born in Odisha’s Khurda district as the eldest of three brothers, however I identify myself as a woman. I have always been a woman, now I have transitioned into one and am proud of it.
However it wasn't always easy. My life and its struggles were difficult for sure. From a poor family but a good student, hence excelled in studies and did my MBA.
Childhood wasn’t easy . It was all about the harassment I faced in school . I always wanted to be a girl, I wanted to be like my mother-a woman who would just stay home take care of her family and raise children, very traditional roles of a female fascinated me. Even today given a choice I would be a stay at home mum however earning is living so I have to earn to live.
So with time, my struggle became multifold, as I grew I tried to hide myself, hide the woman in me and in the process act more `manly'. It was only when my family started putting pressure on me for marrying, did I have to come out.
They just didn't seem to understand, hence in 2012 I had to leave my family and my home. With a friends help got a sex appropriation surgery done.
While the sex change operation is legal in the country, however with it came the insensitivity of the world and that hit me. While you can legally change your gender, marriage of a transgender person is not legalised, as yet. Although transgenders have been there since the time of Ramayana but we still have a long way to go .
Inspite of my education, I had no job. I was a marketing executive for a multinational but I lost my job due to my gender identity. The transgender population in the state was either begging or doing sex work for a living. I also tried to do that for a while but something in me, maybe my conscience, my pride didn't let me do that.
As told to ToufiqRashid

Part one
To be continued