Manabi Bandopadhyay is set to take India by storm when she becomes the nation’s first (and only) transgender college principal on June 9th of this year, when she takes charge of Krishnagar Women’s College in West Bengal. The transgender is currently an associate professor at Vivekananda Satobarshiki Mahavidyalayal.
Manabi toured the college on Tuesday morning with her adopted son Debasish Manabiputro and transgender friend Jyoti Samanta. Manabi did not look particularly excited at the prospect of being the principal of the college and also stated the reason she had accepted the job offer. “It is not the post that I sought after. My 92-year-old father lives in Naihati. I took up this offer because I knew it will help me stay close by and look after him. My new colleagues had seen me on television but I had only heard their voices. I wanted to meet them personally before joining,” she said.
State education minister Partha Chatterjee refused from opining on the sensitivity of the matter and stated that he would accept the decision since responsible authorities had made it. “This decision was taken by the College Service Commission. I don’t interfere in their decisions. They are aware of our open mind. I am happy with this decision,” he said.
Manabi’s friend Jyoti was ecstatic and elated at the position that had been bestowed on Manabi. She said,”Manabidi is an inspiration for us. Today, people back home have accepted my identity. I have even portrayed my own fate in a play that dealt with the plight of transgenders. Manabidi’s news is a great boost for me. I am taking her help to undergo sex realignment.”
Manabi is being flooded on social media with friend requests aas well as calls. The soon-to-be college principal will undoubtedly make history in India (most probably the world) when she assumed the mantle of college principal on June 9th.
