What’s in a name?

A transgender person writes about how having her name changed on official documents sends out a positive message Make it official

HT Brunch

I’ve recently had my name changed on my PAN and Aadhaar cards from Swapnil Shinde to Saisha Shinde. For most transgender or non-binary people, having their names changed on official documentation can be an uphill task. But I come from a certain level of privilege; I’ve had an illustrious career in fashion and film. So, I haven’t been through even one per cent of the battle that trans men and women deal with day in and day out.

To see my female gender and name was like rebirth. I felt a sense of pride that I live in a country where this option is available. Here I was holding legal documents that not even a lot of first world countries offer. I felt thankful to India for letting me be myself.

Team work

My story as Saisha has so far been brilliant. That’s what I hope to make happen for other trans women. There is so much I want to do and I will. My team has been exceptional! The biggest challenge I faced was language. That we don’t have appropriate words to use to describe gender identity was shocking. My tailors and masters accepted my reality with as much purity as my intention to live authentically.

Saisha recently had her name changed on her PAN and Aadhaar cards

is one of the first Indian magazines to proudly feature trans people on the cover, as seen in the October 2020 Best Models issue (left) & the recent cover story (right) with Abhishek Kapoor and twins, Reyza & Saher Sahni