About Kalki

A post graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, Kalki came out to her parents as a Transgendered child when she was 14.

Having gone through the usual nightmares all transgendred children go through, she had the toughest times in schools and colleges where she studied. Still, she managed to finish her B.A in English followed by an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication. Currently she is pursuing her second M.A. in International Relations.

In schools, colleges and universities in India, Transgender students have a tough academic life. Many of them drop out being unable to cope with the insults, harassement and ignorance from fellow students and sometimes even from the teachers. Kalki hopes to change this by presenting and conducting seminars, lectures, workshops, presentations and talks on gender-variant people in schools, colleges and Universities.

In the year 2001, she found the first tamil magazine for the transgendered community called 'Sahodari' and encouraged fellow sisters to write and express their thoughts. Several issues later, the magazine had to be temporarily stopped due to lack of financial support. In the year 2006, she found Sahodari Foundation through which she hopes to bring the magazine once again.

Only knowledge and education can cure the blindness called ignorance. Kalki works within her community through empowerment programmes and with the public especially the youth, by creating awareness on Transgender issues. She hopes to break the myths and wipe the misinformation that exist in the society about transgenders. Through her foundation, she works on projects that would empower the transcummunity socially and economically.

On the professional side, she is an IT person working as an Independent Media Specialist. She develops web based projects. In future, she hopes to travel around the world and work for gender rights for woman and transwoman. Her cherished goal is to work as an ambassador and represent India in the UNO.

She is interested in the Film and Television Media. She is a part of Auroville Theatre Group and has done a double role in a contemporary version of Willam Shakespeare's 'HAMLET' directed by Jill Naverre. Currently she is working on her own play SHIKANDIi from the great epic Mahabharata.

As a transgender she grew up with stigma and insult but it has only made her stronger as a person. She continues to voice for transgender rights in India. Presently, she lives in Chennai.

Get a few glimpses of Kalki's life in her album. Check her writings at her Blog. Check her media appearances in the Media Press Kit page. Got questions? Write to her at: aurokalki@gmail.com