Kalyani: Sreeja is male by birth, but a woman by heart. The journey of a transgender, who hails from Kalyani in West Bengal’s Nadia district, is not an easy one.
With odds stacked against her, Sreeja as usual faced discrimination at home and outside. She, however, remained steadfast in her goal. As a child, Ranjan, as she was known earlier before undergoing sex-change surgery.
Born in a lower-middle-class family, Ranjan, the youngest among three children of Ranjan Ghosh, after an unsuccessful academic life decided to pursue a career in the glamour world. After failing to clear class 10 exams twice, Ranjan suddenly left home to undergo gender change without informing parents. Thus, Ranjan metamorphosed into Sreeja.
Within years, She made a name for herself in the world of glamour. Sreeja was recently crowned at the international beauty pageant.
“It was a bumpy ride for the transwoman like me. I began with taking part at a fashion show organised by Calcutta Alpine Welfare Society and had no clue that one day I’ll earn a name in the fashion world,” Sreeja said.
During her initial years, encouragement from TMC politicians such as Madan Mitra and Tollywood actress Rachna Banerjee held her in good stead. That was the beginning and Sreeja did not have to look back.