President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Padma Shri to transgender folk dancer Matha B Manjamma Jogati on Tuesday (November 9, 2021). The Rashtrapati Bhavan witnessed a one-of-a-kind greeting to the President of India as she was presented with the award.
Her gesture prior to receiving the award has gone viral on social media
Manjamma, dressed in a saree, approached the President and, in a unique gesture, took the saree's fringe towards President of India Ram Nath Kovind to wish him luck before receiving
the award. A good wish from a transgender can bring luck, according to the belief system.
The audience, which included Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah, and other dignitaries, applauded her way of blessing
President Kovind.
But, apart from the viral video of Manjamma receiving Padma Shri, how well do you know her. Here’s Manjamma’s life story and the hardships she had to face to reach a platform
where she shared the stage with the President of India.
Manjunatha Shetty (now Manjamma) was born in the Ballari district of Karnataka and have studied until the tenth grade.
Manjamma recalls that she had begun to identify herself as a woman when she was just 15. When she began behaving like a girl, her parents took him to a temple in Hospet and made him perform
Jogappa.
Jagoppa is a ritual in which the devotees are believed to marry a god or goddess.
Also Read: Tulasi Gowda, who went barefoot to receive Padma award wins internet
Manjunath Shetty was renamed Manjamma Jogathi after that, but she was not allowed to return home. She then began her journey in life by begging in sarees on the streets.
She had been sexually abused and had planned to commit suicide but had other plans for her. She met a father and son duo who taught her to dance, giving her a new lease on life.
Manjamma was introduced to Kallava Jogathi, where she learned the dance form Jogathi Nrithya (a Jogappa folk performance) and began performing throughout the state. She took over the troupe
after Kaalavva's death, and the dance became more popular.
Manjamma went on to become the first transgender president of the Karnataka Jaanapada Academy, a state-run organisation dedicated to the performing arts.
Seven people were awarded the Padma Vibhushan, ten were awarded the Padma Bhushan, and 101 were awarded the Padma Shri during the two-day ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New
Delhi.
The Padma Awards are one of India's highest civilian honours, given out once a year. The Padma Vibhushan honours exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan honours distinguished service of high order, and the Padma Shri honours distinguished service in any field.