Odisha trans woman battles stigma to serve humanity

The year was 1984. My parents delightedly welcomed a baby boy into their lives, naming him Gagan Bihari Das. That was me. The name, meaning “resident of heaven”, seemed an ironic contrast to the harsh realities I faced. My earthly life proved far from heavenly.

From a young age, I struggled with gender dysphoria, enduring toxic social behaviours toward “boys showing effeminate personality and mannerisms.” Born into a modest family, I faced societal pressures and constant ridicule.

This was a time long before terms like transgender, pronouns, and non-binary became part of the accepted vernacular. Even today, these concepts remain unfamiliar to many in Posal, a small village in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district — my birthplace.

That was before I embraced my true self. Now I am known as Chinmayi Das — meaning supreme consciousness, another name for god Ganesha. 

From a young age, I knew I was different. The journey of self-discovery was painful, but it was also empowering.

My family, though financially constrained, stood as a pillar of strength. My father, a daily wage labourer, taught me the values of hard work and integrity, while my mother’s acceptance provided a foundation of strength and compassion. “If a person smiles even after losing, the winner also loses the joy of victory. This is the power of laughter,” my mother would say, a philosophy that became my guiding light. 

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I completed my education up to class 10 in Jagatsinghpur but had to leave due to bullying from peers and taunts from relatives and neighbours. I relocated to Jarapada in Angul district, where I run a corner shop selling merchandise for women. Now, I split my time between Jagatsinghpur and Angul.

In 2012, I officially registered my identity as “third gender” through a court affidavit. If you love your life, don’t waste time because time makes real life.  

A turning point in my life came with the 1999 Super Cyclone, which devastated my village. The cyclone was a wake-up call. Seeing my community in such pain, I knew I had to do something to help.

I was 15 then, but despite the young age I immersed myself in providing support and assistance to those in need.

Years later, a similar calamity arose in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, I found numerous families in my village and in Jarapada struggling to survive under the weight of the lockdown. I sent dry rations to these beleaguered households and extended care to the animals of Jarapada, ensuring they too received food and water during this dire time.

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As the second wave surged the following year, it brought with it an even grimmer reality. Death swept through the region, and the fear of infection and home isolation kept even close family members from performing the last rites for their deceased loved ones.

It was heart-wrenching to see so many lives lost and families torn apart. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. They deserved dignity in death. In this darkest hour, I found a new calling. I decided to take on the responsibility, and undertook the task of cremating over 400 bodies of Covid victims, ensuring they received dignity and closure, even when abandoned by their families.

I have founded the Manav Seva Charitable Trust to provide essential services such as first-aid, hospital transportation, and advocacy for the disadvantaged. Starting the Manav Seva Charitable Trust was a way to formalise my efforts to help others. I wanted to create a platform that could provide sustained support to those in need.

I have received appreciation and support from many quarters, including Angul district magistrate Abdaal M Akhtar. Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and former governor Ganeshi Lal have also lauded my efforts. At home too, my relatives, who had once distanced themselves from me, now beam with pride at my accomplishments.

Recognition is humbling, but it’s not why I do this. Seeing the impact on people’s lives is the greatest reward.

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