K Prithika Yashini, 26, scripted history on Sunday when she took charge as sub-inspector in Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu. For, Yashini is the first transsexual to enter into uniform service in India.
After completing one-year training at TN Police Academy on Friday, she reported for duty in the office of the Dharmapuri Superintendent of Police Bandi Gangadhar on Sunday and was posted in the law and order wing. Much to the disappointment of waiting media, she refused to talk without the permission of her senior officers and left.
"I am very happy for completing the training. It went well. Everybody was very cooperative and understanding," she said after the passing-out parade which was witnessed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami, among others. She said she would fight foeticide and crime against women. Her next dream is to become an IPS officer, for which she plans to prepare for the civil service exam during her free hours.
It was only after fighting a long legal battle, Prithika was allowed to write the TN Uniformed Services Recruitment Board exam. But even a court order was not enough to convince the Board, which kept rejecting her application citing 'flimsy' reasons, once saying her name did not tally with the one in original certificates. It took another round of litigation before she was allowed to participate in field trials in August 2015 only to be disqualified by 1.1 seconds in a 100-metre race. Again the court came to her rescue and passed an order in her favour.
Growing up as a boy named Pradeep in Salem, Yashini realised her sexuality in hrt teen years. When she revealed her desire to undergo sexual reassignment surgery, Yashini's father, who work as a cab driver and mother, a tailor, was shocked. They tried everything from medicines to pujas and astrology to deter him. He then came to Chennai and was readily accepted by the transgender community in the city. The community helped him to become Prithika, who began her career working as a warden in a ladies hostel.
