Kalki Subramaniam

Kalki Subramaniam is a transgender rights activist, artist, actor, writer and entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu.

Early life

Kalki was born in Pollachi, a town in Tamil Nadu.[1] Born into a middle-class family, Kalki was an academically bright student and topped her class. Kalki holds two Masters degrees: Masters in and Masters in International Relations. During her postgraduate studies, she started publishing a monthly magazine in Tamil for transgender women called Sahodari (which means sister).[2]

Entrepreneurial ventures

In 2008, Kalki founded the Sahodari Foundation, an organization that advocates for transgender people in India.[3] In 2014, she was chosen by Facebook as one of the 12 inspiring women of the world who used Facebook for community development.[4] Subramaniam also inaugurated Sahaj International school in 2017, which is dedicated to serving transgender students ages 25 through 50 who have not been supported in mainstream schools.[5] It is the first school specifically designated for transgender students in India and is located in Kochi, Kerala.[6]

Film career

In 2011, Kalki starred in the Tamil film, Narthagi, which was focused around the lives of transgender people.[7][8] She is the first transgender woman in India to do a lead role in a motion picture.[9]

Other interests

Kalki displayed her art at a painting exhibition in the Coimbatore, Piece by Piece. She received invitations from Germany and San Francisco to portray her work. [10] Her poetry titled Kuri Aruthaen (Phallus, I cut) was adopted into poetic short films titled Vadu (The Scar).[11]

In March 2017, she was invited by Harvard Business School, Harvard University to speak on behalf of the sexual minorities, and represent the Indian transgender community.[12]

Recognition

She was nominated for an award in the category, Arts for Life's Sake (Arts) by NDTV Women of Worth initiative.[13]

References

  1. ↑ My Story, by Kalki
  2. ↑ Kalki Subramaniam| About
  3. ↑ "About Sahodari Foundation - Sahodari.org".
  4. ↑ "These women are so inspiring, even Facebook wants to share their stories - Mtv.com".
  5. ↑ "School for transgender students, 1st of its kind in India, opens". Women in the World in Association with The New York Times - WITW. 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  6. ↑ "Only education can empower transgenders: Activist Kalki Subramaniam". The Indian Express. 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  7. ↑ "In Conversation With A Transgender Activist And World's First Transsexual Film Star". indiatimes.com.
  8. ↑ "Choosing to be a woman". DNA. 15 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Bhopal gets drenched in Rainbow Colours: Bhopal Pride Parade - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  10. ↑ "My gender is not my only identity: Kalki Subramaniam - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  11. ↑ "I think it's time transgenders came to power: Kalki Subramaniam - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  12. ↑ "Only education can empower transgenders: Activist Kalki Subramaniam". The Indian Express. 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  13. ↑ "Women of Worth: About the Nominee - Kalki Subramaniam". Women Of Worth. 2016-02-12. Retrieved 2018-04-25.


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