Chennai: Despised and reviled by family and friends besides facing discrimination by the society at large for being a transwoman, Noori Saleem's transformation as a ‘Mother’ for 45 HIV afflicted children through her charity home, is simply breathtaking as well as awe-inspiring.
She has been honoured by the Tamil Nadu government with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Born as a male, Noori was subjected to social ostracism when she realized her sexual orientation is different and that she is a transwoman. From then onwards, she continues to face many hurdles as well as hardships in life.
Her name popped up when she was declared the second HIV-AIDS case in the country in 1987.
Yet, undaunted, 69-year-old Noori runs the charity home under the “SIP Memorial Trust” at Kolathur area in Chennai to provide care for HIV infected children since 2001.
HIV positive kids should not undergo the pain and agony that she had endured was what had pushed her to launch the charity home.
Casting a magic spell, the word “Amma” denotes not merely mother but more than that and the feminine.
For many, it also symbolises the love that transcends any expectation. That’s the reason as to why we could have come across a father who showers pure love, a brother, a sister and lover turning out to be a motherly figure.
Similarly, Noori, through her selfless service has proved that anyone with unadulterated love could be a “mother”. Her life exemplifies the ultimate love of motherhood.
“Noori Amma” or “Noori Aayaa” is so popular in the area around SIP Charity Home in Kolathur.
Once reviled and shunned by one and all for being a transwoman, now she has redeemed herself as a caregiver to 45 destitute children, all afflicted by the deadly, HIV-AIDS virus. She is no more burdened with a despicable identity.
In the year 2003, she started the SIP Memorial Trust to run the Charity Home with the sole aim of extending support and care to those children who had contracted HIV-AIDS for no fault of theirs.
Thus, she has helped those children to break the stigma and related hurdles so that they can pursue studies and succeed in life rather than crushed at a tender age.
“Many inmates of the home are now married and leading a happy life with children,” recalls Noori.
Her service doesn’t end with running the charity home. Apart from running the home, Noori is also engaged in supporting more than 100 similarly placed children in Chennai to continue their studies, finding a new purpose to her life.
Reminiscing the past, she has nothing to cherish but for the deep wounds that the society inflicted on her and she turns melancholic.
“For the past 33 years, I have been battling with HIV-AIDS. When the HIV-AIDS pandemic broke out, I had the misfortune of being declared the second person in the country to be afflicted with the disease. That was the time when there was little awareness in India about the deadly virus. As a consequence, I have suffered a lot,” she recalls with a tinge of sorrow.
“Later, I resolved that I should spend my life in a manner that I should be a gift and a caregiver to those destitute children afflicted with HIV-AIADS rather than being a burden onto myself. That they should not face the difficulties that I had undergone increased my determination. Thankfully, the fear and stigma associated with AIDS have come down a little bit. I have dedicated myself to the children's' upliftment,” she said.
Why the Trust is named as SIP? Any significance attached to it?
“It means a lot to me. It is the Initials of three friends who showered love and affection on me and took care of me. Unfortunately, all three were victims of HIV. Hence, I have named it after them with their initials, as a tribute to them. Recognising my service, the Tamil Nadu Government has conferred on me the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. Indeed, I feel honoured," said Noori.
What do the inmates say about Noori Amma?
“Amma takes care of one and all. We feel safe and secure,” they said adding that ‘Amma’ was planning to have her own building for the home and was struggling to mop up enough resources for that.
Noori has received a lot of awards from the Tamil Nadu government and an award from Raj TV for best woman social worker. She has also travelled to many countries including Canada, Japan, Australia and Thailand as a pubic speaker on AIDS-related issues.
It is pertinent to mention here that despite the progress made in recent years, India still has a long way to go in acknowledging the rights of trans people. If such is the scenario today, it definitely wouldn’t have been easy being a transperson 30 years ago.
