Sintu Bagui
সিন্টূ বাগুই
SECRETARY
I was born and raised in Seoraphuli situated in Hoogli District. I identify as transgender, and I am the child of a sex worker. Since childhood, I felt like a girl. By the time I was 11 or 12 years old, I was a girly-like boy and my behavior was like a girl's. At that time, I
didn’t know anything about transgender or transwomen. Then, in 2010, I became close with Anandam, it's members, and the [LGBT] society. I have improved myself. Since then, I feel happy in the place that I am now. I feel like a woman, and I consider myself like my mother.
I have been with Anandam since 1996. At that time, there was not term as "TG". At that time, then MSM was used. Back then, we were many - as many as 150 members. It has grown since then, and in 2007 Anandam was registered. After this, I could introduce myself as TG, and join the movement in Anandam too.I have gained a lot of support and capacity by joining Anandam. Previously, I was unable to talk to anyone. Now, I can do such. I can protest now. Moveover, Anandam is an organization who works to address violence, and I have also gotten involved in this work, and I love to be a part of it. That is why I'm still associated with Anandam.
Nitu Giri
নিতু গিরি
PRESIDENT
Surajit Kar
সুরজিৎ কর
TREASURER
I'm from Birati in the North Dumdum Municipality. I identify as gay, but didn't know anything about LGBTQKHIA or my identity in the beginning. While I never directly faced any direct challenge or discrimination, because as a gay man I can blend into society, I still struggled internally. I was confused and would ask myself, "What am I? Who am I? Am I to become a hijra?" I felt peer pressure to fall in love with a woman and even tried. Then in 2014, I started working at Usha and learned about Anandam through them. Shortly after, I began participating in Anandam melas, and met Shintu, Dr. Jana, and Dr. Soma. In these last five years with Anandam, I have really come to understand who I am.