Transwoman armed with law degree eyes to end bias in society

Nagpur: Shivani Surkar, in her early 30s, is a soul with a difference. Born with a different sexual orientation, Shivani did not allow it to hamper her vision. She went on to earn a law degree with a dream to become Vidarbha’s first transgender lawyer.
Having cleared her law course from Yeshwant college under Nagpur University, Wardha’s Shivani is now waiting for her sanad (permit to practice law) to don the black and argue before the judge.
Shivani, who described herself as ‘a woman trapped in a man’s body’, said she also nurtures a dream to become a sarpanch and transform the society.
Though she had passed law in 2020, Covid and father’s death did not allow Shivani to get the necessary approval to practice law in court. She also lost a chance to become Maharashtra’s first transgender lawyer to one Pawan Yadav.
Though Yadav cleared law after Shivani, he or she was the first to procure a sanad.
“So what if I am officially not entitled to practice law and argue in court but my daily routine includes legal counselling, making poeple aware and assisting those in need,” said Shivani who has already applied for the approval and sanad.
A BCom and MBA degree holder, Shivani said she is part of a lawyers’ group that handles cases referred by her. “I worked in three different entities including two corporate finance companies but discrimination was everywhere,” said Shivani, the youngest of three siblings.
“This prompted me to take up law,” said Shivani who had also started an NGO ‘Aadhaar’ with a fellow transgender Ritu Jhumade to fight for the rights of other transgender persons and people of same-sex orientation.
Shivani said she was lucky that her family, especially parents, accepted her. “During childhood, I wore my elder sister’s clothes, played with other girls and followed my mother. I was attracted to boys, not girls,” said Shivani who realized being a transgender when 19-20 years old.
She had to encounter social and legal issues to save lives of other transgender persons and people with same-sex orientation. “Two lesbian women had a major crisis in their lives but we ensured it was settled. They now stay together,” said Shivani adding she also got identity card for her community members.
“I want to change perception of society which accepts differently-challenged persons but not of same-sex orientation or transgender born in their family. They should not be thrown out but allowed to study and follow their passion like me,” said Shivani who is also an officer bearer of Nationalist Congress Party.
She emphasized that her community folks must stop seeking alms and fighting, and learn to live life of their dreams. “Sometimes, I do cry out loud and ask God why was it me or why did he made me this way. But, the next moment I do feel that the Almighty has also empowered me with the gift of blessing others,” she said.