Including the transgenders, and their goddess: This is the direction in which an NCERT manual moved. Its withdrawal was very unwise
So, everyone watched transgender folk dancer Matha B Manjamma Jogati honoured with a Padma Shri award for her contribution to arts.
By Devdutt Pattanaik
What went viral on social media was her unique salute/blessing to President Ram Nath Kovind that won the hearts of many. Many reports stated she was the first Indian transgender to get this award.
But in 2019, Narthaki Natraj from Tamil Nadu, also a transgender, did receive the Padma Shri. Narthaki Natraj, however, did not come from any traditional religious transgender community. And maybe that is why she did not catch the attention of nationalists, who cheered Manjamma.
Courtesy : TOI
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