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Manabi Bandopadhyay, a transgender from West Bengal has been appointed as the college principal  of Krishnagar Women's College in Nadia district  and the occasion will create history when she takes charge of on June 9. "For me, it’s a long battle against ignorance. There was a time when I and even my father were threatened with dire consequences, as I am a transgender. I spent my childhood in Nadia and it’s a comeback to my home with pride and dignity after a long battle," Bandopadhyay told.

Bandopadhyay, who is currently an associate professor in Bengali at the Vivekananda Satobarshiki Mahavidyalaya, has created history for the transgender community before also. In 1995, she published the country’s first transgender magazine, Ob-Manab. "I was the first transgender professor in West Bengal and the first transgender to complete a PhD. Despite getting my due honour, I have always faced threats and insults," said Bandopadhyay.

"My dad and I were threatened by the colleagues and leaders of the student union. Their demand was that I should register as a male lecturer. When I protested, they tried to kill me and my father and even made sure that we didn’t get a room for rent in Jhargram," she recalled.

By Premji