As a group of 50-odd artists from a Rajkot-based art collective created wall paintings on the ADGP (prisons) boundary wall near Ahmedabad Central Jail, one of the painters caught attention of the onlookers. Payal Rathva, a
transwoman
, was among the artists who lent their touch to the beautification of the walls.
“People get surprised that I assert my identity and am not typical ‘masi.’ In fact, I have started my further studies for past few years and aim to get an engineering degree,” said Payal.
She said that she left home from a tribal district of
Gujarat
when her family could not come to terms with her identity. “I lived on streets and did odd jobs. A group of trans people also got me into their fold where I even became part of collecting money. But I realized that it was not my calling,” she added.
Concealing her identity, she got a job as sweeper/ sanitary worker at a hospital in Rajkot some time back. “The doctor eventually got to know. But he was happy that I was more than my sexuality. With support of well-wishers, I started education and becoming part of social initiatives,” said Payal, adding that stigma around the topic is preventing many like her to come out or seek meaningful employment.
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