Overcoming all the discrimination and rejection from society is not as easy as it seems to be. Being transgender, they not only fight an internal struggle but also face stigma and harassment from the so-called ‘normal’ people in society. Here is an inspiring story from two such superwomen who gave a brave fight against bullying and earned their medical degree against all odds!
Dr. VS Priya, currently working at Sitaram Ayurveda Hospital, and Dr. Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, an MBBS from the state of Karnataka are a true inspiration who fulfilled their dreams despite all barriers.
Dr. Priya, who was assigned male at birth, understood her feminine identity during her childhood. So the idea of living in a “wrong body” constantly took troll on her. Not knowing how her parents would react, she was scared to reveal her true identity to her parents. She says, “I didn’t know how they were going to take the news. All I could do at the time was to write my problems down in my diary which they eventually found.”
To her surprise, her parents provided her with all the support that she needed to face the situation.“Unlike other transgenders, I was privileged enough to have my parents help me achieve my dream of transitioning. My parents supported me, both mentally and financially, and for that, I will be always grateful to them,” says Dr. VS Priya.
Her parents took her to a hospital, assuming a psychiatrist could help me. Thankfully, the doctor also said that she didn’t have any mental issues.
As transgenders have always faced discrimination at various fronts in society, Priya was afraid of revealing her identity to others. It was at the age of 15 when she realized that she wouldn’t be able to reveal her identity to society for fear of being mocked or bullied.
“I completed my Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery (BAMS) as a man,” she says, adding, “Just to avoid questions on marriage, I then pursued Medicine Doctor (MD) in Mangalore. After completing the course, I got the opportunity to work as a guest lecturer in Government Ayurveda Medical College, Tripunithura, and Government Ayurveda College, Kannur. During this period, I tried really hard to be more manly. From my walking style to dressing like a man, I was very particular about not revealing my feminine identity.”
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