Odisha’s Transgender Bureaucrat All Set To Tie The Knot

Bhubaneswar: Aishwarya Rituparna Pradhan’s love life will at last see fruition with her deciding to get married to her boyfriend with whom she has had a live-in relationship for two years. Born as Ratikant Pradhan, she is currently Deputy Commissioner (in-charge) of GST in Paradip circle of Odisha.

Aishwarya (34) belongs to Kanabagiri village under G Udaygiri block of Kandhamal district. She had joined the Odisha Financial Service (OFS) in 2010 as Ratikant Pradhan but decided to reveal her true identity as a transgender only after the 2014 Supreme Court judgement recognised the third gender. She underwent a sex-change surgery in 2015 and assumed a female avatar under the name Aishwarya Rituparna Pradhan.

Considering that the Supreme Court has only decriminalised homosexuality and not legalised same sex marriage, Aishwarya’s decision to tie the knot could be mired in controversy.

“There is no provision of marriage between two lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and the queer (LGBTQ), according to law. They can have a live-in relationship now after the decriminalisation of Article 377. To legalise their marriage, a new legislation on same-sex marriage should be enacted,” said Ramesh Sahoo, a lawyer practsing in the Orissa High Court.

Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, they cannot marry, he added.

Be that as it may, Aishwarya is unfazed. “For me, marriage has no connection with the law. Marriage can bind two souls for eternity. I just want his acceptance,” said Aishwarya.

“I am very happy that we will get married soon. After leading a life full of struggle and humiliation, we will finally live in peace and have a complete family,” said Aishwarya’s would-be husband.

The OFS officer first met her boyfriend through her childhood friend, Bhumika. “We used to hang out together. Although he fell in love with me, he did not express it,” said Aishwarya, remembering those moments.

He belongs to Puri. “After some days, he expressed his feelings for me to Bhumika. But she ignored it,” she said.

Elaborating further on things that brought them together, she said, “Once I bumped into him near Naa Tala (Head of the Departments) in Bhubaneswar and that is when he declared his love for me. I was on cloud nine as I had found my Mr Right.”

Aishwarya saw all the qualities of a life partner in him. “I accepted his proposal as he accepted me for what I am. He accepted my identity openly,” she said.

“He is self-employed. I shifted to Bhubaneswar from Paradip only for him,” she informed.

Aishwarya’s family has also accepted their relationship. “But I don’t know if his family will accept me or not. I don’t care about what society says, as it is not a crime,” she added.

Once married, they will then adopt a baby girl. “He was interested in adopting a baby boy. Since he cares for my feelings, he has agreed to adopt a baby girl,” said Aishwarya.

She always wanted to adopt a baby girl and make her a beauty queen. “I have a dream that she will participate in the Miss World contest and my proudest moment will be when she will introduce herself as a transgender’s daughter,” she added.

Aishwarya has completed her Master’s degree in Public Administration from Utkal University and a one-year PG diploma course in journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. She was working in the Syndicate Bank before joining the Odisha Finance Service after clearing the Odisha Civil Services examination in 2010.

She had struggled a lot both in her personal and professional life. “When I started feeling that I belong to the third sex, I started wearing women’s attire. My father and brother used to treat me very badly and called me Maichia (effeminate),” said Aishwarya.

In school, her friends used to tease her. “When I was in Vani Vihar hostel, I was also sexually assaulted by some students of the hostel. I had a horrible experience during my college days also,” she shared.

She also faced many problems in professional life. “Finally, my dream has come true. I found a man who understands me and respects my identity,” she said before singing off.