Monika Das of Bihar is the first trans-female presiding poll officer for the state

MONIKA DAS was the first transgender woman in the country to become the presiding poll officer for the state assembly’s election in Bihar, which was scheduled to be initiated from October 28. Her responsibilities as a presiding poll officer involved ensuring the smooth functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) at her booth, as well as complying with directives from the district electoral officer.

Das, 32-years old, graduated as a gold medalist with a master’s degree in law from Patna University. She is the winner of Beauty Pageant for Transgenders. In 2015, she had also become the first transgender woman in Bihar to be working in the nationalized Syndicate Bank in the Kankarbagh Branch, Patna. However, her path to achieve these successes were thronged with numerous hurdles, the most difficult one being SOCIETY.

Time and again, Monika had been expected to behave and dress like a man, but she had defied the compulsion imposed on her. Previously referred to as Gopal Kumar, she gallantly fought her way against stereotypes to earn the recognition and respect she DESERVES as Monika Das.

Earlier the society only recognised two genders – male or female. Even though our fellow trans-siblings had always been there among us, yet the third gender could never be made a part of the mainstream society. As a student, Das was compelled to fill all her educational and professional forms as Gopal Kumar under male category. But following a direction in 2014 by the apex court that gave due recognition to transgenders under third gender, she decided to change her official name to Monika Das and her official gender to transgender. She had also submitted a similar appeal for a name and gender change as a bank employee.

This achievement of Das is highly praiseworthy and stands as a matter of PRIDE for the entire trans community and leaves a positive impact on the overall public perception towards this community.

Furthermore, this recognition shall boost the morale of many trans people who still cannot come out in the open due to the fear of rejection from the mainstream society. If bullying were a bread, trans-people's life would be its butter! Inappropriate treatment, bullying and discrimination forms an integral part of most trans people’s life.

This segregation and undemanding ‘special’ treatment, most shockingly stems from the SCHOOL, expected to inculcate tolerance among students! Studying becomes hard for a transgender because other children make fun of them in classrooms, hesitate to sit near the trans-people or in some cases, the teachers also at times make them sit separately or mock them for acting 'unmanly' or 'unwomanly'. This attitude demeans the self-esteem of these trans-people, causing depression and anxiety.

“I don’t want anything else, just treat me with dignity and normalise our existence in the society. I don’t want your sympathy. I want your love and respect.”-Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi, a transgender activist. And this love, respect and tolerance my friends is what our fellow trans-siblings deserve!