Malini Das, a 22-year-old transgender, has become the first in her community who has completed her graduation in engineering in computer science from a private university in Jaipur.

She completed her Bachelor in Technology (BTech) in Computer Science Engineering this year.

Born and brought up at Berhampore, West Bengal, Malini has also become the voice of transgender youths encouraging others from her community to aim big in life with her achievements. She is currently working in a business process outsourcing (BPO) in Jaipur.

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“I took my studies seriously. I completed my schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya Berhampore (I to XII). After Class XII, I appeared for JEE 2014 and got a chance to study engineering and took admission at a private engineering university,” she said.

Talking about all the support she received she said, “With lots of childhood friends and family support, I felt socially and economically comfortable as compared to other transgenders. College faculties and friends always supported me and have built a stigma and discrimination free zone for me.”

She got the engineering degree this year but she continued her education as she is doing her masters in Media Science and Mass Communication through correspondence.

“After Supreme Court judgement dated April 15, 2014 in written petition civil no. 400 of 2012 I am the first visible Transgender Engineering Student in Rajasthan,” she said.

She said, “Success is not any accident, it’s the result of right decision taken at the right time.”

Her parents are working in the government sector. Her family has strongly supported her in all her achievements. “Being a transgender is alright. Sometimes I feel that the love and relationship aspect do not work normally for us. But this drawback cannot transcend the immense support I have of my family,” she said.

However, she pointed out that there are challenges one has to face being a transgender and there are moments when a transgender person faces discrimination. “When I realise that I am being discriminated, I try to fight against it. I use my best knowledge and skills to get a good social position of LGBT activism as I had done various advocacy, sensitization, health, livelihood programs with various government and non-government bodies,” she said.