Chandigarh: Psychologists define sex as biological. However, gender is an innate personal sense of being a male or female, it's personal. In certain individuals, it may not be in alignment and from an early age they start developing a feeling called 'gender diaspora'.
The transgenders undergo a feeling of being born in a wrong body and they may choose to undergo surgeries and hormone replacement, in order to look more masculine or feminine, as they desire.
Similar is the case of Simranjit Singh, a Sikh woman from Haryana, who underwent gender reassignment surgery at the age of 29 to transform into a man that she always was.
In a two-day seminar organized on raising awareness on the LGBTQ community at PGI in Chandigarh, Simranjit spoke exclusively to ETV Bharat and shared her journey from becoming Simranjit to Sam, a journey to become who she always wanted to be, 'a man'.
Exuding effervescence of a man in his early 30s, Simranjit Singh, now Sam, was born to a middle class Sikh family. "Like most transgenders, I experienced gender dysphoria from a very young age. Since childhood, I used to dress like a boy. Even though I was a girl physically but my mannerism was very masculine since the very beginning," says Sam.
"As I was growing up, the confusion between my mind and body was intensifying. I started feeling that there is something wrong in me. I was not comfortable in my own body,” he said.
For a transgender, it's important to have their family backing them, Sam emphasises. "I remember speaking to my mother about how I felt but my struggle was never properly understood. My parents, however, were supportive but because of the societal pressure they never had enough courage to accept."
"I could barely look at myself in the mirror and depression was slowly taking a toll over me. That's when I knew that I had to undergo transition," he said, adding that since he lacked the family's support he had to wait for several years until he was financially sound to afford a surgery.
Since sex change surgeries (SRS) are not publicly discussed, there is very limited information available about doctors and hospitals that perform them. "It took me several years to research and find an appropriate place for treatment," he said.
"I was fortunate enough to have found Tamanna, my partner, who not only encouraged me to go ahead but also stood by me like a pillar through out my struggle. My parents, who were earlier not comfortable in discussing about my transition in public, have also now started sharing my journey with all," says Sam, who feels a lot more confident after the surgery.
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His family's acceptance and partner's support has given him hope and inspiration to several other people undergoing the same hullabaloo.
