PHOTO ESSAYS

APSARA: DANCE IS A MODE OF SELF-EXPRESSION

The real name of Apsara is Ujjwal Singh. A bright young person, ambitious, wanting to do well and lead a life that makes the best sense to them — free from normative constraints. A professional dancer, they're a multifaceted artist who also writes poetry, giving expression to their inner urge to break free; creativity, to them, is a potent mode of self-expression. (Gender-neutral pronouns: she/her → they/them is used). They are forthright and resilient, about their being and about life in general. Their confidence stems from their state of mind — there are hardly any ambiguities in the way they think. To make a living, and with much passion, they work as a drag queen performer. They're a complete package: attire, appearance, storytelling, dancing — all of it gives them a strong stage presence. It's a blessing when passion becomes a source of livelihood. Their journey to self was a challenging one, and it's made them resilient and confident. They actively participated in the recently concluded student movement led by the Cockroach Janta Party, and were perhaps one of the very few transgender people who came out in full support of it. Their presence was noticed and extensively reported in the media — and through that, their family learned how they identify, as did everyone else around them. The family felt compelled to show them the door; the social stigma, to the family, was too much to bear. Beyond their family's rejection, they also had to face bullying, trolling, and harassment on social media. They didn't let the negativity, or others' misplaced judgment, define them — they remain dignified in their relentless pursuit of their own destiny. Some friends stood by them through these testing times and helped them "rebuild myself," they say — they've become their chosen family. "They celebrated me as I am," they say, "and the rest don't matter."