Yesterday, 22nd December 2005, there was a new year celebration party at Coimbatore where all of my friends and Gurus including Ashaa Bharaty had gathered. I was in this north Indian, 4 piece golden dress with very light make-up. After the speech and the street play demos, we had a dance program. I did a solo performance for 'Hello Mister...', Harini's song for A.R. Rehman's music.

As usual there was so much appreciation and all the time the t-girls were constantly staring at me.. in awe!

During my recent trip to Auroville, Jules Berner was introduced to me by my best buddy Aurelio (lots to tell about this amazing angel-but I'll do it later). Julie is an Environmental Leadership student from Naropa University, Colorado. USA. We met, instantly became buddies and then we talked and talked and shared our personal life stories. The 3 days with this beautiful and wonderful girl were very memorable. She is bright, witty, and (should be) very romantic.

She is also a very good photographer. She took a series of photographs of me.. amazing work. I'll put them soon in my website.

Jules how are you di?

The above image was created with Microsoft Paint

I believe, it is unnecessary that everyone at my workplace should know about my lifestyle. Generally, I am not bothered about what people think of me. However, people who are getting close to me should know me. After they get to know me, the result will always be this: They love me intensely and come closer, or they leave me.. It hurts but its okay, it has always been a part of my life.

Professor M S Swaminathan has been acclaimed by TIME magazine as one of the twenty most influential Asians of the 20th century and one of the only three from India, the other two being Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. He has been described by the United Nations Environment Programme as "the Father of Economic Ecology" and by Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary General of the United Nations, as "a living legend who will go into the annals of history as a world scientist of rare distinction". 

The International Association of Women and Development conferred on him the first international award for significant contributions to promoting the knowledge, skill, and technological empowerment of women in agriculture and for his pioneering role in mainstreaming gender considerations in agriculture and rural development. Professor Swaminathan was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1971, the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986, and the first World Food Prize in 1987.
 
 Professor Swaminathan is a Fellow of many of the leading scientific academies of India and the world, including the Royal Society of London and the U S National Academy of Sciences. He has received 46 honorary doctorate degrees from universities around the world. (source:http://mssrf.org).
 
In April 2004, I was invited by the TAI-VHS Avahan project for the opening ceremony of their new building at Chennai. This was also a function where Dr. Swaminathan released the first copy of 'ThaiPaalam' a woman/transgender sexual health magazine, for which I accepted the offer of being an editor. The Project Director Dr. Lakshmibai invited me to speak. Here was the legend sitting in silence and watching me....

I spoke about the sufferings and discriminations the transwoman face in our country. Dr. Swaminathan later congratulated me personally saying " I am very happy for you. You speak so well!".

I was in joy, need I say that? Words from a living legend of our country.... A blessing.

How beautiful I am when I am in Love

My lips are then blessed with innocent smile...

How beautiful I am when I am with you

My soul then vibrates with e verlasting bliss... 

How beautiful I am when I am alone

My mind is then filled with our sweet togetherness...

-Kalki-