Kajal, a small town person suddenly became the talk of the town when she became the first transgender to debut as a radio jockey in Dakshina Kannada.
It is not uncommon for people to mock individuals belonging to this community in our country, where transgenders are often discriminated against and lack equal opportunities to prove themselves in the education field or in the corporate, or any other sphere of society.
The story was no different for Mandya-born Kajal, who realised the physical transformations she was undergoing at the age of 14. Despite these issues during her adolescence, Kajal did extremely well in her pre-university education with an impressive 85 percent.
Kajal, who happened to visit coastal Karnataka around nine years ago as a circus troupe member, was amazed to see the love and respect she received from the people here and did not have any second thoughts regarding settling here. She now stays in a rented place in Brahmavar.
Kajal, having tremendous acting prowess, has bagged several awards and became acquainted with the Radio Sarang team at an award ceremony. She was later offered the chance to feature as a permanent RJ with Radio Sarang 107.8 FM based in Mangaluru.
On November 21, she hosted her first show titled Shubhamangala, which is aired every Tuesday from 5 PM-6 PM.
Dr. Melwyn Pinto, Director of Radio Sarang, said, “We need to provide opportunities to the transgender community. By accepting them, they can exhibit their talents and bring them to the mainstream. It will enable them to lead a normal life like us.”
The actress-turned-jockey aspires to be an IAS officer someday and is an inspiration to several others like herself, who may often be ridiculed in our society, at times by their own parents, who find it shameful to acknowledge that their child is a transgender.
