Chamarajanagara: The transgender community which has remained marginalised since decades by society is now getting their right and are coming to mainstream. Here is a success story of a transgender who has managed to get a PhD seat in Mysore University.
Many transgenders earlier did their PhD by identifying themselves as male or female but Deepu Buddhe is a first such person who is doing his PhD by registering as transgender.. The PhD subject too is also critical study of life and agitation of transgenders in Mysuru and Chamarajanagara Districts. Deepu Buddhe is doing PhD under guidance of Professor Dr. Somashekar since last 7 months.
Buddhe hails from Heggavadipura of Chamarajanagara District. Buddhe studied PUC as male in the name of Guruswamy. Further, completed her Bachelor’s degree as male. That is when she identifies herself as female. However, soon she identified herself as third gender and completed her Master’s degree. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is her inspiration.
During admission to MA course she did not find column of transgender in admission form, and that is when she convinced university administration to add naother column in the form and managed to secure 80 percent marks.
Speaking to News Karnataka, Buddhe told that she calls herself transformed woman. She said transgenders should not curtail education, and that change is only possible with education. She said she is proud to be the first transgender pursuing PhD degree and asires 5o get it soon.
Karnataka Transgenders’ Association State Convenor Mallamma said that our community people stop education before reaching tenth standard. The society identify us as beggers and insults us. We need opportunity in all the fields. The government should support us to get education, which will ensure that we come to mainstream.
