Transgenders poetry meet

"Ekti Patar Mrityu" (Death of a leaf) by Prosphutita Sugandha, "Bichched Ebong" (Separation) by Debdatta Biswas, "Chakravyuh" by Aruna Nath and "Shottikarer Naari" (Real Woman) by Debajyoti Bhattacharya were some of the poems heard during an event organised by Sahitya Akademi, the country's national academy of letters under the Union Culture Ministry.

Eight transgender poets and writers from West Bengal participated and that also included accomplished poets Rani Majumder and Shankari Mondal (Naskar). Shankari Mondal (Naskar) was earlier a part of that fragment of the transgender community who sing and dance for their living. But now she is a poet and actress.

"I have worked in Kaushik Ganguly's film 'Nagarkirtan'. It has won four National awards," said Mondal, who recited her poem 'Amar Anubhuti'(My Feelings)."

Manabi Bandopadhyay, country's first transgender principal, chaired the event by introducing the participants and also reading few lines of her own poetry.

"I wish more and more third gender people come up with their poetry and creations. I am trying my best to organise more such events," said Bandopadhyay.

Eminent poet Subodh Sarkar, the convener of the Akademi's Bengali advisory board, said: "This is a historic moment and it is our duty to see how literature is taking its own course and creating new assets from everyday life.