Paradip, Dec. 18: Earlier this year, Calcutta's Manabi Bandopadhyay created history by becoming the country's first transgender college principal, closer home an officer of the Orissa Financial Service has defied social stigma and made public her gender identity.

Till the other day, everyone knew the 32-year-old gazetted officer as Ratikanta Pradhan. But the commercial tax officer (CTO), Paradip port township, has transformed to Aishwarya Rutuparna Pradhan.

In a ruling on April 15 last year, the Supreme Court recognised transgender under the third gender category and guaranteed their constitutional rights.

This verdict proved to be a shot in the arm for Pradhan, whose father had served in the army.

"The day the landmark verdict was delivered, I had made up my mind to opt for third gender identity," she recalled with pride.

Pradhan, a native of obscure Kanabagiri village under G. Udaygiri block in Kandhamal district, cracked the Odisha Financial Service test in October 2010 as a male candidate.

The postgraduate in public administration and a graduate from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication had interned with a newspaper before opting for a clerical job with a nationalised bank only. Pradhan did want to stick to the clerical routine and began preparing to fulfil bigger ambitions.

And Pradhan did achieve the goal by cracking the state civil service.

"On April 9, 2014, I was posted as CTO, Paradip. At that time I was used to wear outfits associated with men. But the Supreme Court judgment changed my world. I switched over to sari," she said.

"The transformation had shocked many. But with the passage of time things have become normal. The very people who used to call me 'sir', now addresses me as 'madam'. I did not face any unpleasant situation as my superior officer is very supportive," she said.

"In an affidavit before the executive magistrate, I have already become Aishwarya Rutuparna Pradhan. However, I am yet to turn 'Aishwarya'. I have submitted relevant records for change and modification of my name and gender. The things are now under process. I expect to be conferred transgender classification in government records very shortly," she said.

"Gender identity has not come in my way of discharging responsibilities and duties assigned to me. Those coming to my office are appreciative of my work", she said.

"I have encountered turbulent phases in my life similar to those our community members face everyday. Still I have overcome the hurdles with God's blessings. I had failed to get the desired support from my family. My father, an ex-serviceman, was always harsh towards me," she said.

"In my school and college days, I had to face humiliation. But with grit, I had faced those. During my days at Utkal University, I had taken things in my stride," she said.

But things improved once he got a job.

"I drew due respect as a banker. In my OFS job, my experience has been free from gender discrimination," she said.

"In future, I aim to build a shelter home for the transgender community. Whenever I get a break from my job, I get myself involved in social campaign to end discrimination against the community," she said.