Rebuffed by parents, transgender Durgasri writes police exam to fulfill dad's dream

Her parents were disappointed by her gender, but she didn't disappoint them when it came to fulfilling her father's dream. Half way through her dream of being a police officer, something that her father too had aspired for her, 24-year-old Durgasri appeared for the state USRB exam on Sunday. 

Durgasri grew up in Kannagi Nagar, but left home five years ago. She now wants to visit her parents in the police uniform. Speaking to India Today, she said, "The police uniform would help me come over a five-year struggle. It is one of my father’s wishes to see his son as a policeman. He thought being part of the police is valorous."

Born as Mahesh (name changed), Durgasri realised her sexuality when she was in class five. Born to casual labourers- Munusamy and Kala, it was too much for a boy of that age to cope with the stereotypes of the society and his sexuality. Mahesh dropped out of school after class 12 and started living separately from his parents. However, he always kept in touch with them and visited them often. 

"There was a furore and the fact that I have two young sisters who would also have to face backlash from society used to hurt me," said Durgasri.

Durgasri, taking inspiration from transgender sub-inspector 25-year-old K. Pritika Yashini, tried to join the Tamil Nadu Police Youth Brigade, but failed. However, she got motivation from the inspector of Kannagi Police station, Vivekanandan, who also helped her a lot in achieving this new fete. 

However, there was one more motivation behind wearing the uniform. "The khaki uniform is gender neutral. I do not have to dress up like a man, foregoing my identity, in front of my parents. I will visit them in the uniform," she said. 

Tamil Nadu became the first state in the country to have a transgender sub-inspector K Pritika Yashini who is in charge of the Dharmapuri district. This progressive step by the state has encouraged many like Durgasri to join the police services. a senior official at the state Uniform Services Recruitment Board (USRB) said to Deccan Chronicle, "twenty seven transgenders were issued hall tickets by the board among 6.32 lakh aspirants."  

[Read: Tamil Nadu police gets India's first transgender SI]

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