Madurai College Celebrates Pongal with Transgender Students
The Madurai Institute of Social Sciences took a significant step toward gender equality this week. On Monday, the college organized a special Pongal celebration in partnership with the Transgender Resource Centre. This event aimed to create safe and inclusive educational spaces for all students.
Large Student Participation Marks the Event
More than 450 college students attended the gender-inclusive festival. They saw it as an important move toward social equality. The celebration helped foster acceptance for transgender community members within academic institutions.
M Nishanth, head of the social work department, explained the event's significance. "Usually we keep Pongal department-wise and end our celebrations," he said. "This year it is more meaningful."
Cultural Events Break Social Barriers
Participants enjoyed traditional games like uriyadi and lemon on the spoon. The festival featured dance and music performances that brought everyone together. Two transwomen studying economics at Madurai Kamaraj University received special invitations to the stage.
Mastani, one of the invited students, shared her experience. "Usually we would like to celebrate with our families, but it is not possible for all of us," she told reporters. "I really enjoyed the celebrations. We played many games. Such celebrations effectively enforce inclusion, in addition to awareness programmes in colleges."
Educational Institutions Play Crucial Role
Priya Babu, founder of the Transgender Resource Centre, addressed the gathering. She emphasized how cultural celebrations provide important platforms for breaking social barriers. These events encourage meaningful interaction between students and transgender community members.
Priya highlighted the critical role colleges play in shaping young minds. "Nearly 50% of a student's time is spent in educational institutions and the remaining 50% in households," she explained. "When individuals experience gender-affirming thoughts, creating a safe and supportive space within colleges ensures they do not drop out."
Transgender Community Participation
More than 25 trans men and trans women actively participated in the celebrations. Their involvement made the festival particularly significant this year. Priya urged other educational institutions across Tamil Nadu to adopt similar initiatives.
She believes celebrating festivals in gender-inclusive ways helps reduce stigma. Such efforts ensure transgender students feel valued and supported in their educational pursuits. The Madurai event demonstrated how colleges can become spaces of genuine inclusion.
The partnership between the Madurai Institute of Social Sciences and the Transgender Resource Centre shows promising collaboration. Together, they created an environment where all students could celebrate Tamil culture without barriers. This Pongal celebration marks progress toward more inclusive academic spaces in southern India.
