C. Devi

C. Devi Biography

C. Devi is Tamil Nadu’s First Transgender Candidate. She stood as a candidate representing the regional party, Naam Tamilar Katchi in RK Nagar constituency, Chennai against AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa. Though she was not able to win the elections, she came to spotlight soon after she was declared as the Naam Tamilar Katchi candidate to opposite Jayalalithaa. But she admits that she is a great admirer of Jayalalithaa. Naam Tamilar Katchi is a pro-Tamil outfit floated by film actor Seeman and this 33-year old social worker is associated with many NGOs.

Devi hails from Salem, Tamil Nadu. She was 16 years old when she realized she was a transgender person. Though her parents opposed her decision to undergo sex-change operation she moved forward with it. It was not easy for her family to accept it and later she started working with NGOs since 2004. Her parents appreciated this decision of hers and accepted her. She is associated with Naam Tamilar Katchi since the age of 30. She currently stays in RK Nagar, Chennai with her mother, and runs the Thaimadi Trust apart from other works of social causes.

She mainly focuses on the empowerment of sex workers and transgender people and works for their welfare. In 2016 she became the first transgender person in Tamil Nadu to contest in the assembly elections. She gained quick attention in a short period as she is contesting against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. Though she was well aware that she has to face both the strong parties of the state - AIADMK and DMK, she quoted that she was standing for the people in the constituency, and not against Jayalalithaa.

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Updated: May 29, 2016