Santosh Londhe, known by her adopted name, Sridevi is now Mumbai’s first “recognized” and proud transgender scholar and a degree holder with double majors in psychology and sociology. She was the first to have enrolled for University’s Institute Of Distance and Open learning (IDOL) four years ago, a period when the university had introduced a “third column for gender” for the first time as per the UGC’s Directions. After graduating she has enrolled for masters in psychology at Indira Gandhi National Open University “I am passionate about education and wish to continue learning” recounts Sridevi, who earned her living by running a beauty parlour. Earlier she had also done interior designing course too.
Today she works with an electronics’ film during the day and teaches unprivileged children in the evening. She is probably the first transgender to teach children in a school run by an NGO in Malad and also supports the cause of gender sensitizations. She aspires to be a doctor and yearns to set up an example for transgender community. Her story has been featured in documentaries and short films.
