Shillong, July 14: The Rainbow Home of Seven Sisters in Guwahati celebrated its fifth foundation day recently under the theme Celebrating Differences and Creating Unity.
Prema Chowallur SCC started RHoSS, a Trust, in 2021, to support the most marginalised and often invisible members of society. Based in Guwahati, the organisation provides a transitional shelter and haven for transgender women, gender non-conforming individuals, and survivors of human trafficking. In her message, she said, “Compassion should become our second character so that we treat every individual as an equal with love, empathy and kindness. At the end of the day, we are all creations of God almighty, and we should never forget that.”
Speaking at the event, chief guest Rituparna Neog, queer rights activist, social worker, and founding director of Akam Foundation, said, “When we talk of society, this is the kind of society one imagines, where everyone can be a part and express themselves freely.”
Taira Bhattacharjee Sutradhar, a member of the queer community, in her powerful speech, shed light on the many challenges she overcame in her fight for dignity and acceptance as an equal in society. “Visibility is the first step to knowing the unknown. I am proud and open about my identity, and I understand the importance of being visible. I want to tell everyone that only after accepting ourselves with pride can we face the difficulties laid on our path with courage,” she said.
Hosted by Madhu Raghavendra, a poet and social activist, the cultural performances of the evening included ‘Naam Kirtan’ by members from Women Development Centre, Kharghuli, a Bharatnatyam and Kathak fusion dance performance by Anushika, and a remarkable street play presented by the children of Fransalian Agency for Social Care and Education (FAsCE INDIA). The children enacted the trials and tribulations and persecution of people in the Queer spectrum with great depth.
The evening also witnessed a poetry reading by Prasant Meera which narrated the inner struggle of a non-binary.
