Across the globe, every human being carries the inherent right to live with dignity and to be remembered with respect. Just as we dedicate specific days to honour diverse lived experiences—such as National Disability Day and International Women’s Day—we also reserve moments to amplify voices that have long been marginalised.
Globally, March 31 stands as the International Day of Visibility, dedicated to celebrating the living, breathing contributions of transgender people to society.
In the Indian context, this journey toward dignity reached a historic milestone on April 15, now marked as National Transgender Day. This date commemorates the landmark Supreme Court NALSA judgment, which formally recognised transgender individuals as the Third Gender, granting them legal recognition and the right to claim their place within the nation’s social fabric.
Beyond the courtroom, India’s cultural landscape is rich with regional traditions that have long acknowledged and celebrated gender diversity through faith and community practices.
At the Koothandavar Temple in Tamil Nadu, one of the world’s largest annual gatherings of transgender women—Aravanis—takes place. This 18-day odyssey culminates in a symbolic marriage to the deity Aravan, blending ancient mythology with contemporary expressions of identity.
The spirit of assertion continues in Northeast India, where January 7 has evolved into a powerful symbol of reclaiming space. Every year, the transgender–kinner community of Assam gathers to declare an end to invisibility, transforming this regional observance into a vital act of self-assertion.
Known as Annual Kinner Day, the event is primarily celebrated in Guwahati and organised by the Rainbow Home of Seven Sisters (RHoSS). Since its inception in 2023, the founder of RHoSS, Sister Prema Chowallur, has championed this initiative to honour the community’s existence and demand the dignity they deserve as equal citizens.
This year marked the fourth milestone of the event, which brought the community together at Agora, The Space, in Guwahati to celebrate identity and shared journeys.
The event was further elevated by the presence of dignitaries, academics, and activists who stood in solidarity with the community.
Their participation transformed the gathering into a platform for both intellectual engagement and emotional truth. Eminent author and academic Mrs Najma Mukherjee bridged history and the present through her reflections.
Drawing on her scholarly work, she acknowledged the community’s enduring struggle for survival while emphasising the urgent need to normalise gender diversity. Her latest novel, Chinaki Chuburi, serves as a literary intervention, exploring identity through an intersex protagonist and challenging entrenched societal stereotypes.
Activist Mrs Indrani Chakraborty offered a deeply moving account of maternal solidarity, sharing her journey of standing firmly by her child.
She critically interrogated the term ‘third gender’, questioning the implicit hierarchy that ranks identities as ‘first’ or ‘third’. Her advocacy called for dismantling fear and discrimination at their roots, urging society to ensure that children with gender differences are never hidden, but recognised as a natural part of human diversity.
From the academic sphere, Dr Deepshikha Carpenter, Head of the Department (i/c) of Social Work at Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva Vishwavidyalaya, shared a sobering personal narrative of a relative’s 30-year journey toward familial acceptance.
Her testimony highlighted the everyday realities of exclusion and underscored the urgent need for systemic change. Pledging her commitment as an educator, she stressed that genuine social acceptance must begin with inclusive education and equitable academic opportunities.
The strength of the event was reflected in the vibrant presence of the community itself. In a poignant address, Guru Nitumoni challenged the narrow stereotypes that confine the kinner community to traditional roles such as ritual singing or begging.
She asserted that while the community possesses the same physical and intellectual capacities as any other citizens, they remain constrained by invisible but deeply entrenched systemic barriers.
She spoke candidly about persistent discrimination, particularly the denial of housing by landlords and the reluctance of employers to offer meaningful work. Her message called for a dual pathway to progress: urging community members to pursue education and self-motivation, while demanding that society move beyond surface-level sympathy toward genuine structural inclusion.
True acceptance, she reminded the audience, lies not in pity but in access to housing, employment, and a life of self-determined dignity.
The event drew further strength from the presence of Milin Dutta, founder of Anajoree, members of the Holy Cross congregation, and a diverse gathering of supporters who stood in solidarity with the community.
The felicitation of Dr Yasmin Nasima Parvin honoured her doctoral research, which transforms the transgender identity crisis from lived experience into documented academic discourse. As the day drew to a close, the gathering transitioned into a celebration of spirit through music.
The audience was treated to soulful performances by Jim Ankan Deka—acclaimed musician, documentary filmmaker, and founder of the Eastern Fare Music Foundation—and Tripti Martin, music educator at Delhi Public School and lead vocalist of Folk A Geet, who brought the evocative power of folk traditions to the stage.
These observances—whether shaped by law or rooted in centuries-old traditions—do more than mark a date on the calendar. They weave a safety net of belonging, ensuring that the transgender community is not merely ‘seen’ once a year, but integrated into the moral and cultural conscience of society.
The Annual Kinner Day in Guwahati stands as evidence that India is changing. It signals a future where human worth is not measured by labels such as first, second, or third gender, but by shared humanity. Whether through law, tradition, education, or collective action, the goal remains the same: to ensure that everyone has a place to belong.
The author is Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, USTM. Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect EastMojo’s stance on this or any other issue.
Also Read: Sacrificing our future: Why FTII Arunachal students are protesting