NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Supreme Court Of India
    Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)
    Indian Army
    Indian Railways
    Indian Air Force
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / India News / Meet the first transgender judge in India: Joyita Mondal
    India

    Meet the first transgender judge in India: Joyita Mondal

    Meet the first transgender judge in India: Joyita Mondal
    Written by Ramya Patelkhana
    Nov 14, 2017, 01:41 pm 3 min read
    Meet the first transgender judge in India: Joyita Mondal

    29-year-old Joyita Mondal (born Joyonto in Kolkata) would have never imagined that one day she would become India's first transgender judge. She came a long way from begging on streets to being appointed to National Lok Adalat's bench in West Bengal's Uttar Dinajpur. Joyita says the discrimination she had faced has contributed to what she is today. Know more about her extraordinary journey!

    Joyita dropped out of school, unable to take bullying

    Joyita was born a male named Joyonto in a traditional Hindu family in Kolkata. She had to suffer a lot and face discrimination for being a transgender. Unable to bear the verbal bullying by other boys in school, she had to drop out after 10th class. She wasn't able to conform to the gender norms imposed on her. She later left home in 2009.

    Joyita on leaving her home in Kolkata

    Joyita said: "I just told my mother I had got a job in Dinajpur, a neighboring district in the state, and wanted to go there. I told her that I would come back in two months if things didn't work out, and she consented."

    Initially struggled a lot after leaving home

    After coming to Uttar Dinajpur's Islampur, Joyita never went back to Kolkata. Initially, she had to beg on streets, sleep at a bus stand, and attend functions as a "hijra". She began working for transgender rights and later started fighting for anyone and everyone facing any sort of social discrimination. She also completed her studies simultaneously through correspondence and got a law degree.

    Founder of Dinajpur Notun Alo Society

    In 2010, Joyita Mandal became the first transgender person in Uttar Dinajpur district to get a voter ID. She later established "Dinajpur Notun Alo Society", for reaching out to transgenders and also helping others in the region. Currently, the organization works with 2,200 transgenders.

    Appointed judge nearly 10 years after leaving home

    Joyita was appointed the judge of Islampur's Lok Adalat in Jul'17. She is the first person from the transgender community to have earned the opportunity to enter the judicial system, with the power to bring change. Though she achieved a lot, she says sleeping at a bus stand and being thrown out of hotel rooms because she is a transgender remain a sour memory.

    Cannot ignore my community, says Joyita

    Joyita said she would consider her appointment beneficial for transgenders only if at least 2-3% of transgenders in Islampur get dignified jobs. Even if they don't have much qualification, transgenders can be appointed as Group-D staff, she said. She says governments appoint someone from weaker communities to "muffle" the voices of others in those communities, adding she wouldn't let this happen.

    Individual successes mean nothing: Joyita

    "A handful of us becoming judges, principals won't bring a change. Till transgenders are working as sex-workers and begging in trains, individual successes mean nothing. As I move around in air-conditioned cars, my people beg during the day and work as sex-workers at night."

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Latest
    India
    West Bengal
    Kolkata
    Transgenders

    Latest

    Manu Kumar Jain quits Xiaomi after 9 years Manu Jain
    Upendra Rao's 'Kabzaa' trailer to be released on this date! Shriya Saran
    GAC portal to address social media grievances from March 1 Ministry of Electronics and IT
    Fired after rejecting sexual advances of female executive: Ex-Google employee Google

    India

    Congress's Jairam Ramesh reacts to S Jaishankar's 'China 1962' remark Congress Party
    Swedish woman flies to India to marry Uttar Pradesh man Uttar Pradesh
    India wants to change Indus Waters Treaty, cites Pakistan's 'intransigence' Pakistan
    Axar Patel marries fiancee Meha; see viral pictures and videos Axar Patel

    West Bengal

    Different types of jaggery you probably didn't know existed Food
    Bengal: Snake found in mid-day meal, 30 kids fall ill Tamil Nadu
    West Bengal: Railways denies stone pelting on Vande Bharat Express Vande Bharat Express
    West Bengal: Stones pelted at Vande Bharat Express, windows damaged Vande Bharat Express

    Kolkata

    5 must-visit places in Kolkata for those 'zamindari' vibes Travel And Tourism
    BBC documentary on PM Modi screened at Kolkata's Jadavpur University BBC
    Kolkata court orders Mohammed Shami to pay alimony to wife Cricket News
    Missing late wife, Kolkata man installs her lifelike silicone statue COVID-19

    Transgenders

    Sushmita to headline OTT series on transgender activist Gauri Sawant? Sushmita Sen
    8 years into marriage, woman learns husband underwent sex-change operation Bengaluru
    Elon Musk's transgender daughter to drop surname, cut off ties Republican Party
    Tripura: Transpersons say cops made them 'strip to prove gender' Supreme Court Of India

    Love India News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    India Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023