With more power comes more responsibilities...

Having an identity plays a very vital role. There are times that we have fought for it, earned it, ran for it, or even risked our lives. Why are we so particular about our identity? Is it so important to have an identity? What if you don’t have one?

What is identity?

Identity is the qualities, beliefs, personality, looks, and/or expressions that make a person or group. A psychological identity relates to self-image (one's mental model of oneself), self-esteem, and individuality.

Identity is a crucial factor in an individual’s life, or life itself. The very existence of “YOU” is your identity. Identity can be your name, gender, class identity, spiritual identity, etc. It also goes to the extent of knowing your strengths and weaknesses, individuality, preferences, traits, etc.,

Discovering and pursuing one’s true identity can be the difference between a happy, fulfilled existence and a life full of emptiness and confusion.

Searching for this precious identity was a twelve-year-old child. The child was assigned a male at birth and adhered to the gender identity till the age of 12. She confided in her brother about her gender identity and very soon had to face the harsh reality of rejection from home. Her mannerisms and dressing were soon unmissable, and this beautiful child went on to become Akkai Padmashali.

She faced several trials and challenges in her growing years, unlike other children of her age. Akkai shared her story with the world, and there was nothing hidden about all that she went through. She has shared how she had to visit doctors since her parents felt that something wasn’t right with her concerning her gender. She had to drop her studies when she was in her 10th grade and was forced into work, which was against her wish.

She happened to meet people from the transgender community and got to understand their harsh inequality in various circumstances.

Akkai went on to start her career at an NGO, which is?an LGBT rights group based out of Bangalore, where she was motivated to inspire more minds. Akkai’s view was very clear; her fight was “Acceptance and Social Inclusion”. Since then, she has been fighting a battle to ensure the dignity and rights of transgender people as well as a sexual minority.

Her achievements:

She is the first transgender person in the country who has gotten a driving license stating her gender as female. She is the first trans woman to be invited to be a part of the town hall during former US president Barack Obama’s visit to India. She was invited by the President of India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the CJI in India. She is the first trans person to register her marriage in Karnataka.

She was awarded the Rajyotsava Prashasti and an honorary doctorate from the Indian Virtual University for Peace and Education.

She went on and founded "ONDEDE,” an organization to advocate for the rights of children, women, and sexual minorities.

Today, Akkai Padmashali is an Indian transgender activist, motivational speaker, and singer. The list of achievements can go on and on.

However, in all this, the little child prodigy rose to its zenith like a phoenix, and there is no stopping or turning back.

I was fortunate to meet her face-to-face at one of the sessions, and I was awestruck when I first saw her. I stood like a statue and wondered what this person was made of? Her smile is so contagious and she puts you at ease at first glance. She emits that positivity and love that forces any heart to melt. She just came to me and gave me a warm hug. The sweet memory is still engraved in and I would like to wish her the very best in everything.