TIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Life is a struggle for everyone but, for some like her, it is a lonely and tough fight, says Heidi Saadiya on the first day of her journalism course at the Institute of Journalism.
Heidi Saadiya, the first transgender woman to study in the institute, looked confident and bold when she opened up her mind after the course’s formal inauguration on Thursday morning.
Heidi was born in an orthodox Muslim family at Chettuva in Thrissur and life was normal for her until she revealed her identity after her undergraduate course. She recalls. “Suddenly you become an alien to everyone, including your family. They simply couldn’t understand the importance of societal acceptance for my identity,” she says.
But Heidi was born to win. She wanted to learn and secured twin masters in economics and commerce. And her career choice is journalism, which she believes, is a socially-committed profession. She wants to be a television journalist. “Journalism is a passion for me, right from my childhood. This profession will help me serve the community, including the transgender population,” she says. Heidi had earlier cleared the journalism entrance examination but could not join as she had to undergo the sex reassignment surgery then. “The surgery and the completely feminine look further boosted my confidence. In fact, it gave me a lease of life,” she says.
Heidi wants her life to be an inspiration for young members of the transgender community. “They have to struggle a lot since a large section of the society has a flawed perception about our community. My advice for them is to fight, fight for their existence and for a successful life,” she says.Heidi is also happy she could win a challenge she set for herself. “I wanted to join the journalism course only if I get a good rank. Luckily, my name was 18th in the rank list,” she says as her eyes gleam with satisfaction.