<p>Akkai Padmashali, the renowned transgender activist from Bengaluru, has been using theatre as a way to tell her story as well as sensitise the masses to the community’s rights.</p>.<p>On Saturday, the play depicting her life was performed at an unusual location, the High Court of Karnataka. Over a hundred judicial officers and staff at the court watched the solo performance by actor Nayana Sooda. </p>.<p>The play depicts Akkai’s life since childhood - identifying herself as female at eight years of age, the rejection by her family, running away from home, attempting suicide as a teenager, facing sexual assault, having to do sex work for a living, and so on. It also shows how she fought for her own rights as well as her community’s. </p>.<p>A transwoman whom Akkai had helped secure a job at the High Court still works there.</p>.<p>The play also shows recent incidents in her life - being the first transgender person in Karnataka to get officially married, adopting a child, and the recognitions that came her way. </p>.<p>The play may soon be performed at the Judicial Academy, says High Court registrar (administration) Chandrashekhar Reddy, who facilitated the event.</p>.<p>“Judicial Academy has a bigger hall, with over 200 seats. Judges, officials and trainee judges would attend the event,” he said.</p>.<p>“We are in the justice system, but we don’t know enough about the community. This performance is important as it sensitises the audience.”</p>.<p>There are plans to conduct the performance at various district offices of the State Legal Service Authority as well. </p>.<p>Akkai says this was the 22nd enactment of the play. It was performed previously at the Karnataka Police Academy, for judges in Shivamogga and Koppal, in many Bengaluru colleges, etc.</p>.<p>“This play is a public education tool and is playing a vital role in changing people’s mindset. Performing at the High Court has been a milestone. The judiciary is the one institution that has always supported sexual minorities, but there too it’s a process,” she said. </p>.<p>Akkai says that the legislature and law enforcement have been disappointing with respect to sexual minorities’ rights, and the play aims to reach them too.</p>.<p>“We are planning to approach Speaker (Vishweshwar Hegde) Kageri about organising the performance for both Houses of the legislature,” she said.</p>.<p>“We are also planning to organise it for members of our own community, such as sex workers and sexual minorities.”</p>
<p>Akkai Padmashali, the renowned transgender activist from Bengaluru, has been using theatre as a way to tell her story as well as sensitise the masses to the community’s rights.</p>.<p>On Saturday, the play depicting her life was performed at an unusual location, the High Court of Karnataka. Over a hundred judicial officers and staff at the court watched the solo performance by actor Nayana Sooda. </p>.<p>The play depicts Akkai’s life since childhood - identifying herself as female at eight years of age, the rejection by her family, running away from home, attempting suicide as a teenager, facing sexual assault, having to do sex work for a living, and so on. It also shows how she fought for her own rights as well as her community’s. </p>.<p>A transwoman whom Akkai had helped secure a job at the High Court still works there.</p>.<p>The play also shows recent incidents in her life - being the first transgender person in Karnataka to get officially married, adopting a child, and the recognitions that came her way. </p>.<p>The play may soon be performed at the Judicial Academy, says High Court registrar (administration) Chandrashekhar Reddy, who facilitated the event.</p>.<p>“Judicial Academy has a bigger hall, with over 200 seats. Judges, officials and trainee judges would attend the event,” he said.</p>.<p>“We are in the justice system, but we don’t know enough about the community. This performance is important as it sensitises the audience.”</p>.<p>There are plans to conduct the performance at various district offices of the State Legal Service Authority as well. </p>.<p>Akkai says this was the 22nd enactment of the play. It was performed previously at the Karnataka Police Academy, for judges in Shivamogga and Koppal, in many Bengaluru colleges, etc.</p>.<p>“This play is a public education tool and is playing a vital role in changing people’s mindset. Performing at the High Court has been a milestone. The judiciary is the one institution that has always supported sexual minorities, but there too it’s a process,” she said. </p>.<p>Akkai says that the legislature and law enforcement have been disappointing with respect to sexual minorities’ rights, and the play aims to reach them too.</p>.<p>“We are planning to approach Speaker (Vishweshwar Hegde) Kageri about organising the performance for both Houses of the legislature,” she said.</p>.<p>“We are also planning to organise it for members of our own community, such as sex workers and sexual minorities.”</p>