From facing taunts for her work to Padma Shri awardee, the life of Manjamma Jogati
Hyderabad: Transgender woman Matha B Manjamma Jogati, the renowned practitioner of Jogati Nritya, received prestigious Padma Shri award on Tuesday for her contribution to the art form. What has caught the most attention is the way she greeted President Ram Nath Kovind at the ceremonial event. As her name was called, Manjamma went up to […]
Hyderabad: Transgender woman Matha B Manjamma Jogati, the renowned practitioner of Jogati Nritya, received prestigious Padma Shri award on Tuesday for her contribution to the art form. What has caught the most attention is the way she greeted President Ram Nath Kovind at the ceremonial event.
As her name was called, Manjamma went up to the President and took the fringe of the saree towards him to wish him good luck before receiving the award. According to the belief system, a good wish from a transgender can bring luck.
The gesture was met with loud applause from the audience including Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among others.
Born in Bellary of Karnataka as Manjunatha Shetty, Manjamma studied till class 10. She identified as a woman ever since childhood and her parents took him to a temple in Hospet and got him to perform Jogappa at the age of 15. It is a ritual in which the devotees are believed to get married to a god or goddess.
From then, Manjunath Shetty became Manjamma Jogathi. Yet she was restricted from coming back home. She then started begging on the streets for survival. She says she was sexually abused and attempted suicide. But eventually came across a father and son who trained her in dance. Over the years, she faced extreme poverty and abuse.
She was introduced to Kallava Jogathi who taught Manjamma Jogathi Nrithya, a folk performance of Jogappas. After Kaalavva’s death, she took over the troupe and the dance became more popular.
She was appointed as the chairperson of Karnataka Janapada Academy in 2019. She is the first trans woman to head a cultural academy in the State.
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