Sujit Chanda
Agartala, May 30, 2019: With the initiative of Tripura’s first trans-sexual woman Sneha Gupta Roy, first ever sub-divisional Beauty Contest at Teliamura in Tripura was organized. Sneha, transformed from Snehangshu, is Tripura’s first trans-person to have underwent a gender reassignment surgery and hormone therapy from 2009 till 2011.
After full recovery, she came out in public and asserted her trans-identity confidently in the society. She is working in encouraging others to come out of the shadows about their preferences and orientations. Talking about the Beauty Contest Sneha said, I see the beauty contest as her ascent from a trans-person struggling for identity to a confident woman with individuality and self-identity.
Settled in Teliamura Sneha runs a Beauty Parlor – Rupjyoti Beauty Parlor of Teliamura. As a show of women empowerment, Sneha’s Rupjyoti Beauty Parlor in association with Kalakhsam Dance Academy held a dazzling Beauty Contest at Teliamura town hall.
Chief Whip of State Assembly Kalyani Roy inaugurated the contest at Teliamura Town Hall in the evening yesterday. Social Welfare minister Santana Chakma attended the programme as Chief Guest. Altogether 14 girls from 18 to 32 years age participated in the contest. Among them Nikita Sinha Kalai won the ‘Miss Rup Teliamura’. Besides, Purbita Sengupta selected as First Runner up and Arshita Bardhan selected as Second Runner up. Later Chief Whip Kalyani Roy offered the crown to the winners.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest Santana Chakma appreciated women who are coming forward to build up nation breaching the invisible boundary of family. She hailed the initiative of Sneha and hoped that more of such contest would be held. “Such event are helpful to harness confidence of participants – in today’s world, confidence building among the women is essential for overall development of the society.
At the end of the contest, artists of the Dance Academy presented enchanting dances and songs. (Courtesy: Tripura Times dt May 30)