Karnataka transgender dancer Manjamma Jogathi was confer with the Padma Shri award for her contribution to folk dance by President Ram Nath Kovind. As she receive the award, she made a gesture with the ‘pallu’ of her sari to wish the President good luck.
Padma Shri Manjamma Jogathi journey was tough, fraught with several challenges.
Manjamma Jogathi was born as Manjunatha Shetty in Karnataka’s Ballari district.
Padma Shri Manjamma Jogathi studied till Class 10.
At the age of 15, Manjamma Jogathi starts identifying herself as a woman.
Padma Shri Manjamma Jogathi parents made her perform Jogappa, a ritual in which devotees are believe to get marry to a god or goddess.
This is when Manjunatha Shetty became Manjamma Jogathi.
Padma Shri Manjamma Jogathi could not enter her own house.
But an ever-resilient Manjamma Jogathi draped a sari and took to the streets to beg for a living.
Padma Shri Manjamma Jogathi journey was meet with sexual abuse which made her contemplate suicide.
But it was a father and son duo who taught her dance thus giving her a new lease of life.
Padma Shri Manjamma Jogathi learnt a dance form known as Jogathi Nrithyaa after she was introduce to Kallava Jogathi.
After Kallava’s death, she perform across the state and made the dance form popular.
Padma Shri Manjamma Jogathi also became the first transgender president of Karnataka Jaanapada Academy, a body of the state government for performing arts.
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