Living Her Dream! Kajal to Debut as First RJ Transgender on Radio 107.8 FM

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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Living Her Dream! Kajal to Debut as First RJ Transgender on Radio 107.8 FM

Mangaluru: No doubt for this young 27-year-old Kajal, her dreams are coming true- just recently in Udupi she got an offer to Play a Lead Role in Rangabhoomi Theatre ‘ICU Noduve Ninna’ to be staged during second week of December 2017-this is the FIRST time that Rangabhoomi is introducing a transgender actor; and now one more good news for her is that starting 21 November she will make debut as the FIRST transgender Radio Jockey (RJ) in Coastal Karnataka, on Radio Sarang 107.8, a 24X7 Community Radio aired from St Aloysius College-Mangaluru. Kajal’s show ‘Shubhamangala” will be on air from 5 pm till 6 pm on Tuesdays.

Transgenders have always intrigued people. When you see them out on the road, they immediately catch your attention; just long enough for you to notice what they are doing but never long enough that you actually observe and understand them. Transgenders in India, while officially recognised as the third gender, still struggle to lead a normal life across the country. Like Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said “Humanity is not confined to male or female. We are giving a social status to them. Go and meet them. Have meetings and rallies of such people,” Modi had directed MPs, as he identified the government bill related to transgender persons as a great step towards social reforms.

There was a major breakthrough in 2014 when transgenders were officially recognised as the third gender in India. A transgender was employed in the Karnataka High Court. A transgender even went on to win an election and become mayor in Chattisgarh. But bizarre incidents of transgender oppression continue to occur across the country. The society has not yet adjusted to accepting transgenders as normal human beings. Even today, most transgenders are seen begging or worse: turning to sex work. But in the meantime locally here in Mangaluru, Parivarthan Charitable Trust formed in the year 2016, under the able guidance and leadership of Violet Pereira ( Proprietor of Mangalorean.com) has been functioning real good to make a difference in the lives of transgenders.

The Trust has been working relentlessly for the welfare of transgenders with a mission of bringing them to the mainstream of the society. The Trust has also given medical assistance to transgenders, including an Aadhar card registration camp was also organised at the Parivarthan office for them. The vision of the trust is to empower every transgender and efforts are on to provide them with jobs so that they can lead a respectful life in the society. And now the Trust feels proud that Kajal has shown to the World that even a Transgender can accomplish their goal if they have a Will, Determination, Dedication and Commitment. If regular people can succeed in their lives, why not Transgenders!

Hailing from a less privileged community, Kajal will shoulder the responsibility of uplifting the confidence of her community, and her first show on the Radio will be an interview with another transgender on the struggles their community faces. The management of the Radio has also decided to employ her as a permanent RJ on par with contemporary RJs and allowing her to discuss any topic which is interesting to listeners.

Kajal, who hails from Mandya, was born a male but gradually she realised she was more a female. At the age of 12, she had a sex-change operation. According to Kajal, it is very hard to pinpoint the time when she figured out that she was having female tendencies. Speaking to media Kajal had said, “When I was growing up, I had very little interest to go out and play with the other boys. I was far more interested in going shopping with my mom. I used to pester her about the purse or saree she used to buy from the shops. Even from my walking style, it was noticeable from an early age that I was a transgender. So at the age of 12, I had a sex change operation (from male to female). Today, I’m a woman. A to Z, I’m a woman.”

Kajal is also being trained as a video jockey at Spandana TV Channel, and has already presented a few segments on Saranga Channel 107.8 FM. Having completed PUC where she secured First class, Kajal is looking forward to complete her degree and get a good job. Kajal had joined an NGO managed by Alliance Company as a project manager in Ashraya, and later promoted as project director. To find solace, she frequented visiting Mumbai and earned her livelihood by working as a bar dancer. She also got associated with a circus company as a dancer and hence happened to visit the coast of Karnataka for a show nine years ago. Recognizing her talents and achievements, Kajal has been felicitated by Udupi Congress Mahila Morcha and Roshini Nilaya School of Social Work-Mangaluru.

Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Kajal said, “I was so flattered with the love and respect people showered on me here that I made this place my permanent aboard, and I have been living in a rented house at Brahmavar in Udupi. I wasn’t used to so much respect before, but now I do. People should realize that we too are human and nurture dreams like all others. I too, crave for love, and have enough love to share with the opposite sex. I have found love having a relationship with a 24-year-old male four years ago, and our relationship has been going strong, even though a few hiccups here and there. But I feel great and special whenever he expresses love towards me”.

She further said, ” It is next to impossible for a transgender to find a job. We prove our mettle only if we get a chance. But I am fortunate to live my dream, by getting all these offers- to perform on stage through Rangabhoomi Theatre in ‘ICU Noduve Ninna’ and live on FM Radio. I hope that every member of my community gets a chance, and also live their dream, and succeed in life”. In the meantime, Fr Melwyn Pinto- Associate Director at FM 107.8 had said that even Transgenders have their right to live in dignity- and when they are talented we need to encourage them- and thus when we identified the broadcasting talent in Kajal, we offered her a platform and we are confident that she will do good.

Kajal’s show titled Shubhamangala will be aired every Tuesday from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm. She recorded her first show on Thursday. After a few episodes, Kajal will be aired live. Community Radio Sarang is managed by the Mangalore Jesuit Educational Society (MJES) and is run by St. Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangaluru. It was established in September 2009 by Dr Richard Rego SJ who is known as the founder of this campus-based community radio. Though SARANG 107.8 FM is a campus radio, it is more of a community-participating radio than educational institution radio. Quantitatively, approximately 95% of the content is produced by and with the local community or by health and legal workers for communities. Sarang means ‘harmony of colours’ signifying various social, religious, linguistic communities and their peaceful coexistence in coastal Karnataka. Mangaluru community is a melting pot of cultures, religions and languages. Hence, it was felt that Sarang would be the most appropriate name.

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