Ruth says that Dr. Ambedkar advocated for the dignity of every human being, not just men and women. As a Dalit transgender woman, Ruth was deeply inspired by Babasaheb Ambedkar’s struggle against caste discrimination and his zeal for education.
On one hand, the dream of becoming a doctor, on the other, a long battle for her identity and dignity. But fighting this battle, 31-year-old Dr. Koyyala Ruth John Paul has made history. Ruth is one of the first Dalit transgender women in India to earn an MD degree in Emergency Medicine. She has since treated patients at the ESIC Hospital in Hyderabad. Now, her dream is to become a doctor and treat people in a government hospital.
The story begins in Khammam, Telangana. Ruth, the daughter of a mother who became a daily wage laborer after her father died of a heart attack in 2006, would have lost her courage if any other child had been in Ruth’s place. But Ruth learned to fight, and in this fight, Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar became her inspiration. Her mother raised her three children in extremely difficult circumstances. Despite these difficult circumstances, Ruth continued her studies, passed her 10th and 12th grade exams with good marks, and dreamed of becoming a doctor.
In Nikhila Henry’s report published in the Indian Express, Ruth says that Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s thoughts and struggle have had a profound influence on her life. She says that Dr. Ambedkar always advocated for basic human dignity. He spoke of respect for every human being, not just men or women. As a Dalit transgender woman, Ruth was deeply inspired by Babasaheb Ambedkar’s struggle against caste discrimination and his zeal for education.
But the greatest of all challenges was accepting her gender identity. For Ruth, this struggle began from childhood. She enrolled in medical school with the female gender she was assigned at birth. However, in her third year of medical college, she revealed her transgender identity to her family. According to Ruth, her family couldn’t accept this truth. She was beaten and thrown out of the house.
At that time, she faced extremely difficult circumstances for livelihood. She had the option of begging or sex work, paths often forced upon the transgender community. But Ruth didn’t give up. During this difficult time, she met Hyderabad-based transgender activists Rachana Mudraboyina and Vaijayanti Vasantha Mogli, who helped Ruth. They recognized her talent and gave her a chance to progress. Thanks to this support, she completed her MBBS from a medical college in Hyderabad in 2019. And as often happens, after Ruth’s success, her family has also accepted her.
But the struggle continued. The path to further education after MBBS was not easy. Ruth appeared for and passed the NEET-PG exam three times between 2021 and 2023. While she was allowed to register as a SC transwoman in the application form, she was included in the female category during counseling.
Ruth appealed to the Telangana High Court in 2021, demanding recognition as a transgender woman from a Scheduled Caste. In 2022, the National Medical Commission (NMC) wrote to her, stating that there was no precedent for including her under the transgender category in counseling. Therefore, her case was separate.
The legal battle in this matter continues. Meanwhile, in 2023, the Telangana High Court issued an interim order allowing her admission to the medical program, but under the female category. Ruth argues that as a Dalit transgender woman, the Constitution entitles her to reservations under both the Scheduled Caste and transgender categories. However, the NMC places her among female candidates. Despite this, Ruth continued her studies and finally passed the MD exam on October 9th.
However, Ruth’s exam was still pending. Even after completing her MBBS, Ruth faced difficulties finding a job as a doctor. For a while, she worked as a temporary doctor at the Mitra Transgender Clinic. However, she finally secured a position as a doctor at the ESIC Hospital in Hyderabad.
Getting an MD degree is a major achievement for Dr. Ruth. But her dream doesn’t end there. She wants to work in a government hospital to provide better treatment not only to members of her community but also to those in need who cannot afford private hospitals. Ruth continues to pursue this dream.
Dr. Ruth’s story isn’t just about earning a medical degree. It’s also about the struggle for caste-based discrimination, gender identity, education, and respect. A story that demonstrates that despite difficult circumstances and discrimination, when a great leader like Dr. Ambedkar is considered a role model, paths can be forged through education and determination.
Dr. Pooja Rai
Dr. Pooja Rai is a teacher by profession. She has a keen interest in women’s issues and humanitarian news. Her books, “Aadhi Aabadi Ka Dard” and “Sapno Ke Pankh” (Faces of Dreams), were very popular.
Courtesy: Hindi News