There’s a spring in this eunuch’s step

Source: DNA-Mumbai

V Narayan

Thursday, June 29, 2006 21:46 IST

Pic: Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi at the Dai Welfare Society office in Govandi

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a eunuch from Thane, has hung her dancing shoes. Only to spend her time and energy in serving her community as president of the Dai Welfare Society in Govandi.

A professional Bharatnatyam dancer, Laxmi started learning the dance form when she was 12 years old.

“It was a hobby which I started in class VII. Initially, four students joined my dance class in Thane (West),” she said. Today, over 300 students have been enrolled in nine Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance schools, started by Laxmi, named Lucky Chance Dance Academy.

While doing a commerce diploma, she choreographed dance events and became a model coordinator. She went on to do a postgraduation in Bharatnatyam from the University of Mumbai in 1996.

“After that many students joined my dance class,” she said. Apart from dance classes, she did stage shows, took part in Bollywood flicks and later worked at Topaz Bar in Bandra (East).

On her journey to self-discovery, Laxmi worked for five years at the Duru dance bar in Ulhasnagar.

“I wanted to be a courtesan. It’s such a respectable job,” she said, with a laugh.

Atharva Nair, Laxmi’s friend and assistant at Dai, laughs loudly at this. “Tell her the truth,” he said. “You wanted to lure men!” Laxmi is unabashed. “He’s a bad boy, but it’s true.”

Another eunuch said, seeking anonymity, said, “Today Laxmi focuses her full time towards social activities. Even today, she is fit to dance like before.”

For a cause: Founded in 1999, 'Dai Welfare Society' in Govandi—an NGO formed for the support of eunuchs—now has 4,000 members in Mumbai and Thane.

It instructs lakhs of eunuchs on how to deal with AIDS. It holds 6-7 AIDS awareness
programmes at railway stations, BMC hospitals, gardens and bus stops every month.