PHOTO ESSAYS
Stories told through light.
FRADISH IS THE MASTER OF HER DESTINY
Fradish, a Muslim and the youngest of five siblings, was assigned male at birth but was never comfortable with her biological gender. After much struggle, she told her family about her decision to transition and embrace her identity as a transgender woman. This happened ten years ago. Hers is a conservative, middle-class family from Faridabad, and it took them a while to accept her; they may never fully reconcile with it. However, they know very well that Fradish is the master of her own destiny. Fradish is independent, lives alone, and fends for herself; the family doesn't object as long as she contributes to running the household. Success followed a long phase of uncertainty, but she never doubted her chosen path. In her 30s, Fradish is one of the most celebrated drag performers at Kitty Su—an iconic queer nightlife destination in Delhi. Her day job is with an NGO, where she works as a consultant. She understands her family's predicament; they are conditioned by a normative way of life. She, on the other hand, is free and ready to embrace the new—she relishes uncertainty and revels in the unpredictability of life. Not everyone can be as bold and assertive as her. Despite the challenges, Fradish harbours no bitterness. Her inner strength guides her path. "God has always been kind to me, and I have no complaints," she asserts. "I'm my own best counsellor," she adds with a smile.
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."
BORN IN THE BROTHEL
Many prostitutes bear a child or two. They are the children of the illegitimate fathers, have a mother and many aunts, loved and cared f or; it feels like a joint family with hardly any adult male. A visual journey into their lives.
UNKEPT PROMISES
To escape persecution in the name of faith, the Hindu families from Pakistan crossed the border to India. They are hopeful for a bright future but it's not easy to exist in the stateless purgatory. They face a different kind of existential crisis in their adopted country. Lead picture: Fateh Singh adorn in tricolour.
BHANUMATI COULD BE INDIA’S FIRST TRANSGENDER SUPERMODEL
Behind the camera, Bhanu-mati became a diva; the transition was instant.
SHOOTER DADI
From Granny to Gunslinger: The Legend of Shooter Dadi.
THE OLDEST FATHER
Story of a man who became a father at the age of 94.
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