By Pritesh Kamble
Becoming a teacher was my dream, but entrepreneurship called me to create spaces where all identities, including transgender, could flourish without judgment – says Siddhi
In an era where the LGBTQIA+ community continues to fight for equal rights and acceptance, Siddhi’s journey is more than just a success story; it’s a beacon of hope. It highlights the crucial importance of organizations like CYDA, which actively work to provide transgender individuals with a platform not just to survive, but to thrive. Her story is more than just an inspiring tale of success; it is a powerful call to action, urging society to move beyond words and provide tangible opportunities for change, fostering a world where everyone can live with dignity and purpose.
The Crushing of a Dream
In a world where dreams are often pre-packaged by societal expectations, Siddhi, a transgender woman from Rajgurunagar, dared to dream audaciously. Her heart yearned to become a teacher, to ignite young minds with the spark of knowledge. But for Siddhi, the path to realizing this simple yet profound dream was laden with thorns. Despite her hard-earned B.Ed. and her qualifications, the cold, hard wall of discrimination loomed before her. Her transgender identity, something she embraced with courage, became an insurmountable barrier, leaving her feeling rejected and heartbroken. The classrooms she longed to enter remained closed, not because of her abilities, but because of prejudice.
Her story is not just about a transgender woman’s struggle against societal prejudices; it’s a evidence to the resilience of the human spirit, the power of reinvention, and the life-changing impact of a single opportunity. Siddhi’s journey lays bare the agonizing challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and underscores the incredible strength required to rewrite one’s narrative in the face of adversity.
The Painful Reality: Discrimination and Exclusion
Siddhi’s journey as a transgender woman in a society still struggling with understanding and acceptance of gender diversity was filled with discrimination. The moment she walked into classrooms or interacted with others as her authentic self, she faced judgmental stares, exclusion, and whispers behind her back.
Let’s listen to Siddhi’s words: What hurt her the most…..
It was not just professional rejection—it was the daily stares, whispers and judgments. Wearing sarees, I felt society is rejecting not just my dreams, but me as a person. That hurt most.”
The Sting of Rejection: Discrimination and Exclusion
Siddhi’s experience as a transgender woman navigating a society still grappling with understanding and accepting gender diversity was a relentless gauntlet of discrimination. Each step she took as her authentic self was met with judgmental stares that pierced her soul, whispers that stung like venom, and an all-encompassing sense of exclusion that threatened to suffocate her spirit. The world seemed determined to box her in, to deny her the simple right to exist without constant scrutiny and condemnation.
Let’s listen to Siddhi’s own words, and feel the weight of her experience:
“It wasn’t just the professional rejection—that was painful enough. It was the daily stares that made me feel like an alien, the whispers that chipped away at my self-worth, and the judgments that made me question my place in the world. Wearing sarees, and embracing my true identity, I felt like society was rejecting not just my dreams, but me as a person. That…that hurt the most. It felt like I was invisible, unworthy.”
Finding Light in the Darkness: A Path to Empowerment
Yet, even in the face of such adversity, Siddhi’s inner fire refused to be extinguished. She understood, with a clarity born of necessity, that financial independence was not just a matter of survival, but a crucial step towards reclaiming her dignity and rewriting her story. With teaching cruelly snatched away, she had to forge a new path, a way to build a future where she could thrive, not just exist. But starting a business as a transgender woman seemed an impossible mountain to climb. She lacked not only the money and resources but also the knowledge and confidence to even begin.
Realizing that her passion for teaching was blocked by prejudice, she resolved to pursue business as a means of self-support and a way to regain her self-respect. It was at this critical juncture that fate intervened.
Introduced to CYDA by her supportive transgender friends, an organization dedicated to providing business training and financial support to marginalized communities, including transgender individuals, Siddhi found the lifeline she desperately needed. This connection became the catalyst for her transformation from a victim of societal rejection to a self-sufficient, empowered entrepreneur.
From Seed to Flourishing: The Road to Success & Growth
CYDA’s two-day business training program was nothing short of a revelation for Siddhi. More than just imparting practical knowledge about managing a business, the sessions ignited a spark within her, opening her eyes to the possibility of self-sufficiency and a future where she could control her own destiny. She absorbed key entrepreneurial skills like a sponge, learning:
- Business growth strategies: How to nurture a small business, scale it gradually, and expand its reach.
- Financial planning: The vital importance of savings, budgeting, and long-term financial sustainability, concepts that had always seemed out of reach.
- Reasons why businesses fail: How to identify potential pitfalls and navigate around them, transforming obstacles into opportunities.
- Starting small: Understanding that success is not an overnight phenomenon, but a result of careful planning, consistent effort, and unwavering belief in oneself.
The most profound takeaway for Siddhi was the realization that a small investment, when wielded with wisdom and determination, could yield significant returns over time. Empowered with this newfound knowledge and the unwavering support of CYDA, she began to think and act like an entrepreneur, her confidence blossoming with each passing day.
Hatching a Dream: Launching the Poultry Farming Business
With a grant of Rs.10,000/- from CYDA and United Way Hyderabad, Siddhi embarked on her poultry farming venture, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. She approached the task with meticulous planning and unwavering work ethic, determined to use every rupee wisely. She invested in essential tools and equipment: plastic containers for feeding, protective mesh for the poultry area, and other necessities, ensuring that her hens had a safe and comfortable environment.
Starting with just 20–25 hens, Siddhi nurtured her business with the same care and dedication she would have poured into her students. Slowly but surely, her business began to thrive. The sale of eggs and poultry brought in a steady income, allowing her to reinvest in her business and expand her flock. Within months, her monthly earnings soared to Rs.20,000/- to Rs.30,000/-, a life-changing sum that allowed her to break free from the chains of financial dependence and experience the sweet taste of independence.
As her business flourished, Siddhi experienced not only financial success but also a profound sense of self-worth and the deep satisfaction that comes from building something with her own hands. No longer seen as an outsider, she became a symbol of strength, resilience, and the transformative power of opportunity.
Breaking Boundaries: Siddhi’s Impact on the LGBTQIA+ Community
Today, Siddhi is an inspiration to the LGBTQIA+ community. She is an entrepreneur and a role model, a reminder that success is not defined by gender or societal acceptance, but by determination, hard work, and the willingness to take risks. The key turning point in Siddhi’s life was not just the business training or the financial support; it was the recognition that, with the right tools and encouragement, anyone—even those from marginalized communities—can break barriers and achieve greatness.
A Wave of Hope: Siddhi’s Impact on the LGBTQIA+ Community
Today, Siddhi stands tall as an inspiration to the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond. She is not just an entrepreneur; she is a role model, a living testament to the fact that success is not determined by gender identity or societal acceptance, but by unwavering determination, relentless hard work, and the courage to take risks. Her story resonates deeply within a community that has long been marginalized and denied opportunities, proving that anything is possible with the right support and a belief in oneself.
The key turning point in Siddhi’s life was not just the business training or the financial support; it was the profound recognition that, with the right tools and encouragement, anyone—even those from marginalized communities—can shatter barriers, defy expectations, and achieve greatness. Siddhi’s success has ignited a spark of hope in countless others, inspiring them to pursue their dreams, challenge societal norms, and create a more inclusive and equitable world for all. Her journey is a powerful reminder that when we invest in the potential of every individual, regardless of their background or identity, we unlock a world of possibilities and create a society where everyone can thrive.
Siddhi’s legacy extends far beyond her poultry farm; it’s woven into the fabric of a more inclusive future. Her story is a powerful reminder that dreams, when nurtured with opportunity and fueled by unwavering determination, can shatter even the most formidable barriers. Let her journey inspire us to champion a world where every individual, regardless of identity, has the chance to leave their own indelible mark on the world, creating a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come.
(The author is the program manager at CYDA)
