Padma Awards 2019: Nartaki Natraj, the first trans person to receive award
New Delhi, Jan 26: The Padma Awards for 2019 have been announced. This year's list comprises of 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri awardees. Dancer Narthaki Natraj is the first trans person to receive a Padma award.
54-year-old Dr Nartaki Natraj is a Bharatanatyam dancer and trans activist from Madurai who specialises in the Tanjavur tradition of Nayaki Bhava. She has founded a dance school where she teaches Bharatanatyam, and is known for her research and performances around the world. She trained under veteran dancer K P Kittappa Pillai.
Narthaki left home at a young age, and fought the rampant social taboo that trans persons face. She soon became a symbol of transgender empowerment in the field, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
Braving poverty and social stigma, Narthaki followed her passion to become a dancer with the financial support of Shakti - her childhood friend.
An empanelled artist of the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India and a top grade artist with national television, Narthaki has been a recipient of the Kalaimamani award, the highest honour of the Tamil Nadu government and the Nritya Choodamani of the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in 2009.
The
Sangeet
Natak
Akademi
Puraskar
(2011)
and
the
Vetri
Award
of
the
University
of
Madras
for
performers
from
marginalised
communities
in
society
(2013)
are
among
her
other
distinctions.
Narthaki
has
a
rare
collection
of
Tamil
literature,
which
she
uses
for
research
in
her
solo
and
group
productions.
Some
of
her
dance
productions
are
'Tamizh
Amudhu',
'Siva
Darisanam',
'Shakthi
Darisanam',
'Kumara
Vijayam',
'AranganVaibhavam',
'SwatantraVriksha' and
productions
on
contemporary
issues.
The Padma awards 2019 are one of the highest civilian awards in India. They are announced before Republic Day every year to honour people in disciplines like art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service.
The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan in March or April every year.