Akkai Padmashali rose above her trials and tribulations to be an inspiration to her community. This Indian transgender activist is a motivational speaker, singer and was also awarded the Karnataka state’s second highest civilian honour, Rajyotsava Prashasti. Akkai has recently lent her support to The Pridebook, a networking platform for the LGBTQ community.
“India is a nation with poverty and as a developing country, the recent 10 per cent quota allocation for economically backward individuals proves this. My only concern is that I’m not for this 10 per cent quota that the government introduced for the economically backward society. The most oppressed and marginalised section is the transgender community and the government has not addressed this,” Akkai starts off when asked how hard it is for her to go day by day with belief. She feels that there is a general lack of awareness on the sexuality of the community she belongs to. “In that context, the world is immature. A forum like Pridebook for the sexual minorities will eradicate discrimination and speak for social justice,” Akkai informs us, saying that it is only in the past 25 years that the entire marginalised community has started speaking up for their identity and existence. “We as a community want to occupy all the social provisions or status. Karnataka, and Bengaluru is one place where you have the freedom to be yourself. Apart from this, in other parts of the country there is no discussion and a lack of awareness. It is not only about education and employment, we are struggling for housing, acceptance, health, marriage, adoption etc. The 2014 judgement that was passed was a huge win for the community. Policies and judgement has not been implemented though.” Akkai was introduced to the Pridebook through her colleague and friend Archana.
The Pridebook is an effort to debunk various myths and misconceptions about this community, their practices and preferences by the outside world. “People think being transgender is a mental illness and that we are child kidnappers. Myths and misconception form due to lack of awareness. This issue needs to addressed, within and outside,” she adds. Apart from being a activist, Akkai is a motivational speaker who speaks from her heart, and what she feels for her community and herself. A singer thanks to her genes, Akkai is proud of her grandmother Srimathi Kamalamma and her father who belonged to the Padmashali community. “I was very keen to learn classical music but my grandmother used to tease me that if I learn classical, I would become a sanga (will become a feminine). I learnt classical music with Chandana jukebox,” says the fan of MS Subbulaxmi. Next for her, she adds, “People are demanding that I join politics, I want to continue with my activism.”
