This is one of those few firsts that we Indians can be proud of. India and very likely, the world too, will be getting its first transgender college principal when when Manabi Bandopadhyay takes charge of Krishnagar Women’s College in West Bengal on June 9. Manabi is currently associate professor in Bengali at Vivekananda Satobarshiki Mahavidyalaya.
“This decision was taken by the College Service Commission. I don’t interfere in their decisions. They are aware of our open mind. I am happy with this decision,” state education minister Partha Chatterjee said on Tuesday.
Technical education minister Ujjal Biswas, who is chairman of the college governing body, said: “We were in need of a principal with a strong personality to run the college smoothly.”
Surrounded as we are with narrow minded politicians, it’s comes as a breath of fresh air to see the state education minister support this decision. Besides Manabi’s accomplishment is nothing short of a big achievement for the cause of the LGBT community.
Manabi’s colleagues and students are excited. “Manabi Bandopadhyay is a strong individual. She has faced many upheavals. We are optimistic about the development of the college during her tenure. She is a celebrity and her sexual orientation isn’t an issue for us,” said Jayasree Mondal, assistant professor, geography. Bengali assistant professor Prakash Mondal said: “She is free-spirited. She has a good command over her subject. This college has not had any principal for long. We are happy to have her as our principal.”
While bias against transgenders is still rampant, and they are yet to be mainstreamed, there seems to be some softening of stance, of late. Recently, another transgender woman was appointed a news anchor for a Tamil news channel, while transgender Rose Venkatesan was once one of the most popular talk show hostesses in Tamil Nadu with her show, Ippadiki Rose. But this is the first time that a transgender has been given such an opportunity outside the entertainment sector, and that too, in the field of education. A proud day, indeed!
More on>> Balancing Act
