Karnataka’s transgender folk dancer Matha B Manjamma Jogati was honoured with the Padma Shri from President Ram Nath Kovind for her contribution to arts and her gesture before receiving the award is winning the hearts online.
As Manjamma Jogati approached President Kovind, she made a gesture that many in social media say was to wish the President luck.
In a video clip tweeted by news agency ANI, it is seen that before receiving the Padma Shri, Manjamma placed the lap of her sari on President Ram Nath Kovind's head and then touched the floor with both hands. The dignitaries present at the Rashtrapati Bhavan welcomed her with applause. Kovind also reciprocated by greeting her with folded hands.
Born as Manjunath Shetty in Ballari, Manjamma has been her father's target for wanting to be identified as a woman, which was none of her fault. While in school, she loved traveling and dancing with girls. His brother felt she was possessed with some 'Goddess' and was tied to a pillar and beaten up.
A priest later said that she was blessed by Goddess Shakti, but Manjamma's father spurned her and declared her dead for him.
In 1975, she was taken to the Huligemma Temple near Hospet, where she was renamed. And, on seeing his son clad in woman's clothes, her mother cried profusely, saying she lost his son forever.
The "ruthless" father threw Manjamma out of the house, from where her tough life began, as she wandered the streets begging bowl and getting raped many times.
She also stayed in the hospital for several days due to illness, and once six people together robbed her money and raped her.
Manjamma almost thought of ending her life, but then she saw a man and his son, dancing with utensils on their heads. This was the Jogati Dance.
Hooked to it, she started learning the art and became proficient. Soon she started getting offers of performing in theatres. Manjamma did not stop here. She also mastered, among other art forms, the Janapada songs, Kannada language sonnets in praise of various female deities.
For this accomplishment, Manjamma was bestowed with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2010. In 2006, she was awarded the Karnataka Janapada Academy Award and, in 2019, she was appointed President of the institution, becoming the first transgender to occupy the position. (Inputs from UNI)
(Photo Credit: Screengrab of video tweeted by ANI)