Transgenders are people whose appearance and behaviour differ from stereotypes about how men and women are normally expected to be. Transgender people have existed in every culture, race, and class since the story of human life has been recorded yet they still fight to be accepted in society. Their status in society is that of an outcast and they are pushed towards begging and prostitution for their mere survival. Prithika Yashini’s story brings in a new ray of hope.
Born (as Pradeep) and brought up in a remote Indian village, Yashini had the passion to become a police officer since she was two years old but life had other plans when she discovered her hormonal changes during her late teens. Right from being abandoned by her family to being pushed into working multiple jobs, she faced day to day difficulties even before she could try to pursue her dream of becoming an IPS Officer. Her determination to achieve her dreams has set an example to the transgender community and gave her the strength to fight for her rights even after she was denied entry to the policy academy.
She had applied to the position of an SI in the Tamil Nadu Police services but was denied entry as she was from the ‘third’ gender. Yashini decided to fight her case instead of giving up and filed a case to review her application. After a long-drawn court battle, the court finally ruled in her favour. Today she is a successful Sub-Inspector who performs her duty and proudly claims to be given the same authority as every other cadet. She is also confident that she will achieve greater things in life.
