Meet Maya Thakur, Transwoman School Dropout Becomes Himachal Poll Icon

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, India has witnessed several inspiring stories of resilience and grit. One such story is of Maya Thakur, the transgender icon of the Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission. Despite facing discrimination from her peers and society throughout her life, she has emerged strong as an advocate for transgender persons' rights. Thakur was bullied in high school and the faculty refused to support her, forcing her to drop out in Class 9. Moreover, her relatives and neighbours advised her parents to "throw her out" of the family.

Taking from her own experiences, Thakur now aims to spread awareness and debunk the misconceptions that society has about transgender persons. She spoke to the media about how India can be more accepting of transgenders, right from schools to workplaces. Hear her story. 

Who Is Maya Thakur?

Maya Thakur, the transwoman face of Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission, spoke to Press Trust of India about her past experiences and the battles she fought. "I was born as a male but identified myself as a woman. My identity is that of a transgender woman, we are unisex and not eunuchs," she asserted in an interview with the news agency. 

Owing to myths and misconceptions about transgenders, Thakur faced plenty of troubles from her peers throughout her life. She said, "When I used to tell my family members about the ill-treatment and discrimination in the school to the extent that I was not allowed to use the toilet, they thought I was making excuses to skip school."

She ultimately dropped out of school but now hopes she will get the chance to complete her education. "Given a chance, I would like to resume my education," she said lamenting that she faced discrimination at "every step in life". Thakur spoke about the challenges that transgender persons in India face in getting basic rights. 

She explained, "Education, jobs and ending discrimination against transgenders are our main issues. Some transgenders wish to study, become teachers, lawyers, join the police and excel in other spheres of life but when we apply for jobs, the response is 'will tell you if there is any scheme for you'." Thakur spoke about the possible solutions for gender equality.

"There is a need to spread awareness for social acceptability for transgenders, who have the right to live a life of their choice," she said. She also blamed the police for not registering their complaints or not taking their issues seriously. Thakur earlier worked at a non-profit organisation in Delhi and now advocates for awareness on education for transgenders.