kinnar ka ki

published articles:

shreya basu

kinnar ka ki - a photo essay

Kinnar is the Sanskrit word for transwomen and

Kinnar Ka Ki is a play on the significance of their transformation.

Overwhelmed by their transformation stories and the fire in their bellies, I document this as a tell-tale for all of society to empathise, not sympathise, and to create a safe space for them to be heard.

Neither a ‘how’, nor a ‘why’ – this investigation is to instigate the idea of embracing all lives as equal, break stereotypes about the trans community and see them for who they really are–aspirational transwomen of our society.

Sweety
Pride

“I feel very proud that God made me this way. I have given myself the approval that I am! I can stand for myself.”

I came to Bhavika’s house only 2 months ago from Pune. I had a good life there, you know? I got everything I wanted –

food, clothes, everything;

everything except the liberty to breathe freely.

Bhavika

Unity

I started taking people into my house to support all those who were lost in their transformation.

I’m 30 years old, but it feels like I’ve lived up to 60 already. I can relate to a teenager as much as I can relate to an older person. If I’m like a brother to someone, I think about what kind of a brother I want to be, if I’m a mother, what kind of a mother am I? I think about all these roles and only then take decisions.

I don’t know how powerful my decisions but

I feel very strongly about them.

I am India's leading third-gender Bollywood actress, singer and model. Money isn’t everything, but can be a lot of things – this is my motto. Most important is to remember that the only way forward is when we all walk together!

Tarana

Hope

I look like my mummy. When I compare her younger photos to me now, I see the similarity. At least mom tolerates me when I’m this way, my dad doesn’t even look at me. He tells her, “If he’s going to come in front of me, he has to come as my son only.”

I hope against hope that someday they will recognise me and all the things I'm doing for them.

I hope they will accept as this Tarana.

Poppy

Beauty

I moved to the city of dreams from Kolkata to become a make-up artist. I want to work so hard and be so good that I can work with big stars like Priyanka Chopra one day.

Being a make-up artist, I know very well that everyone has flaws. I have never been in front of the camera, only behind. But I know I’m beautiful because my heart is beautiful.

Sweety: "Being a part of this community has taught me the true meaning of love. Unconditional and equal. We have been through so much that we doesn’t want anyone else to feel what we have sustained. I believe education & awareness that a big role to play in understanding our stories."

"I think about my parents every day. They must be in so much pain and must be dealing with so much clash from the society. I think if they are even 10% as proud of me as I am of myself, I’ll be satisfied.

I want them to feel proud that I am transgender, I’m third person.

Third person is still a person, right? I want to achieve something big for that change to happen."

Tarana: "As a young girl, I would watch my sister dress up and feel very jealous. Now, I appreciate it so much more.

I adore the idea of wearing a bra. I want to save enough money to be able to do my implant operation quickly. It is my majburi that I have to take up odd jobs and even begging to collect enough money since it’s so difficult to get regular work. I know people look at me in a certain way. I’ve been called names and teased on the road. But some take my blessings for money.

Some even say that only when I come to their shops, their business kicks off for the day, and I hope it’s because I’m doing it with a true heart."

Poppy: "Growing up, my mom and I had a strong connection. I love her food and miss it very much in Bombay. A line that I think about every time things gets hard is something maa used to say to me–

“Never do anything that would hurt your family or cause them pain.”

I want to achieve big things, work even harder so that someday they look at me and say,

“No matter what shape or form you come in, we are proud of you”."

Bhavika: "I tell it as it is. My life was never simple, but in retrospect, it’s still beautiful.

I believe that no one has to suffer alone. My family & my trans family plays a large role in my growth and I will go ahead in life with them always by my side.

I have achieved a lot in life, seen a lot in life."

This project was possible only with the support of Team Anat.

Anat is a gender free content collective that has been at the vanguard of supporting artists who do not conform to the traditional gender classification. They can be found on Instagram.