MCD Elections: Bobi experienced frequent bullying and harassment at school and in her community before she realised she was a transgender woman. She was adopted by a transgender community guru when she was between the ages of 14 and 15. In the present, Bobi, affectionately referred to as “Bobi darling” by the citizens of Sultanpur Majra, is preparing to run in the forthcoming MCD elections on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket.
The 38-year-old said, “I faced insults all my life, but it never stopped me from dreaming that transgender people like me will get value and respect in society one day. I never lost that hope. I know that transgender and queer people are still looked down upon and do not get equal opportunities… a lot has to done, but this is first step.”
She was handed a ticket from Sultanpur Majra Vidhan Sabha under SC-10, 43 A, and is the first transgender candidate that the AAP has put forward for the elections.
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Bobi’s journey from a wedding dancer to politics
Bobi described her transition from a wedding dancer to a social worker and her entry into politics. She told the media, “Due to the name calling, I had to drop out from school… My parents loved me but wo bhi samaaj ke chakkar mai thoda fas gaye (they were bogged down by societal pressure)…”
“When I was around 14-15 years old, I was taken in by my guru, who is no more, and was given shelter and love. I found people like me, I felt at home,” she exclaimed.
She began by singing and dancing at birthday parties and weddings, but when she was around 21 or 22 years old, she joined an NGO and began to study reading and writing. Later, she trained as a social worker and worked with transsexual people and disadvantaged children.
Bobi was nurtured in the Sultanpur region where she was born. When asked if she still communicates with her parents, she responded, “Yes, my mother always loved me and still loves me… I have a younger brother who works in the private sector… My father ran a small dhaba; he is no more… my mother raised us doing odd jobs. I meet her once a month and spend time with her… She will also campaign for me.”
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How she joined the AAP and attracted people’s support
When asked how she joined the AAP and attracted people’s support, she responded, “I participated in the Anna movement and met Arvind Kejriwal ji. I was inspired by their thoughts and ideas of change and development… Since then, I have been associated with the party. As a social worker, I work for the education of women and children in my area… I never imagined I would contest the elections, but the people in Sultanpur encouraged me and said, ‘you fight, we will vote for you and make you win’.”
This is the first step, she said. “I hope one day, there will be reservation for transgender persons in civic, assembly and the Lok Sabha elections and in Parliament too. I also request parents to treat their children equally… If I can contest an election, other transgender persons can become engineers and doctors if their parents stand by them.”
According to Bobi, if she is elected, her top priorities will be good cleanliness, eliminating trash from the neighbourhood, and fixing open sewers. “There is no public toilet for transgenders in my ward. My agenda will also be to construct a separate toilet for transgender persons.”
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