Alisha Patel became the first trans-woman from Gujarat to be recognised by the state government and receive a transgender identity card.
Patel said she realised she was a woman within ever since she turned 12. Youngest among six siblings, Patel preferred the long skirt at school uniform over the boys’ shorts, but she could express herself.
Patel said her family supported her throughout without any objection and she overcame her struggles with their help and counselling by a psychiatrist. “Initially, there were some apprehensions in other people, but I have survived them all,” she was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.