Now they wish to study by choice

BANGALORE: Many are deprived from education for various reasons. These people, however have no special reasons, except they are transgenders. After rejection and disapproval from society, now, they too are willing to pursue higher education.TNIE spoke to a few transgenders who are enrolling for various degree courses. Akkai Padmashali, a transgender and city based gender rights activist wants to study BA in Political Science. "I have enrolled for BA in History, Economics and Political Science at Karnataka State Open University. I am very much interested in politics and I am happy to study the same," Akkai said.While Sana another transgender, who discontinued pursuing BBM in 2004 is also enrolling for BA course. Sana explains the reason for quitting: "People in my college including teachers, staff and students used to humiliate because of my change in gender. I had to quit with no other options", Sana said.Sana now wants to do BA in Journalism and has enrolled at KSOU in Mysore. "Journalism is an interesting field. I have the capacity to gather news", Sana said.Another transgender Priyanka, who is working as a Radio Jockey (RJ) at an FM station is enrolling for BA in English. "As a Jockey, I will have to communicate in Kannada, Tamil, Hindi and English. But, when I have to speak in English, I hesitate. Hence, I am taking up a degree in English hoping it will make me confident", Priyanka said.Lack of facilityThough Bangalore University had opened gates for transgenders last year for Post Graduate (PG) courses, many of the transgender feel that without admitting them at Pre University, degree level, it is not possible to pursue PG course. The university had reserved quota of one seat in each of the 52 PG courses. It had become the first university in India to offer transgender quota. They even made changes in the application format, apart from the male and female categories, the application form had TG (transgender) option too. However, there were no takers for the quota.When TNIE contacted Dr N Prabhu Dev, Vicechancellor of Bangalore University, he said that university is not authorised to include quota in degree level. It comes under Department of Collegiate Education. "We can only bring changes in PG courses," he said.