Dr Aqsa Shaikh, the Transgender Doctor of India; the First Trans Woman to Head a COVID Centre in India
According to the 2011 census, India has 4.8 million transgender people. The country might be a little less progressive about them compared to the other countries but has witnessed some amazing rises recently. We have Dr Aqsa Shaikh as one of the fewest transgender doctors but stands as the first from the community to head a COVID vaccination centre in India.
But that’s not all we have for Dr Shaikh. She has a full list of contributions and achievements in her name. She has been the only nodal officer of a COVID vaccination centre with the work of COVID-19 surveillance, vaccination, and research. Dr Shaikh is an associate professor in the department of Community Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. And has now also been a researcher in COVID vaccination trials.
Moreover, Dr Shaikh has established an NGO named Human Solidarity Foundation. She has also contributed several essays and blogs on issues of social interest and has written numerous books on subject matters.
What did her childhood look like as a transgender?
Dr Shaikh did not have an easy childhood just like many transgender children in our country. She was born and brought up in Mumbai where she acquired her medical education before moving to Delhi. All this while, Dr Shaikh was battling with herself for her identity. Her head would explode thinking if she was gay, a trans person, or a person belonging to the Hijra community.
She even had difficulty in her school days when other children would make fun of her for feminine behaviour. She tried her best to behave more masculine but was all in vain. Even her family didn’t support her or try to understand what was going on with her. All they would say everything would be better and normal after marriage. These things of course gave her a traumatic and difficult experience. There was a time when she believed that she had no other choice but to end her life. However, rather fortunately she convinced herself not to take such a step and give herself a chance.
How did the acceptance of transgender identity take place?
At the age of 20, Dr Shaikh decided to seek professional help from psychiatrists. She started taking counselling from healthcare professionals. This was the period when she learnt that there was nothing wrong with her and her identity. After her acceptance of herself, she decided to help others as well who suffer the same. Dr Shaikh has also gone through surgery to change outside what she is inside. Even though this transition period was very difficult for her, she made it through. Today she has become an inspirational story for hundreds.
How is her life after transitioning?
According to Shaikh, the post-transition period is difficult of all because at this time you feel more sensitive. And if you are alone like her at that time, the experience becomes harder. Firstly, you are going through a physical change, secondly, people don’t make it any easier for you. You are already going through a lot inside your head, people talking things about you is an added anxiety.
It has not been easy for her family either. They were in shock post-transition. They haven’t though fully accepted her, but the acceptance is increasing day by day. She has a hope that one day her parents will fully embrace her true identity.
What does she have to say to the LGBTQ (transgender) community?
Dr Aqsa Shaikh says aloud that though it’s not easy for transgender people to live a normal life, and have to go through a lot in the initial days, they should not give up. She says that transgenders should stand up for themselves and that committing suicide is not a solution. If you have confusion and difficulty embracing your true identity, seek out professional help. Or maybe talk to those who understand you and would support you.
Shaikh says that transgenders suffer a lot because of the discrimination they have to go through. She has thus been fighting for equal rights and setting an equal space for the community.
Author: Simran K Parmar
A post graduate in English Literature, secular humanist, critical thinker, an outspoken atheist, follower of equality and a lover of philosophy. craftedfashion94@gmail.com
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