Despite learning Kathak for 18 years, I've only two students because I'm a tran woman: Devendra S Mangalmukhi

On the opening day on Tuesday of the three day online, 'National Transgender Dance Festival', India's first transgender Kathak exponent, Devendra S Mangalmukhi performed. The event is organised by North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala (Ministry of Culture, Govt of India) on Tuesday.
Devendra commenced her performance with a Tarana by Amir Khusro 'Yaar-e-man beya beya', followed by an uthaan, thaat, salami, paran and amad in Teentaal.She concluded with a thumri 'Ka se kahun sajni man ki batiyan' by Amir Khusro and a Darbari Tarana.
Devendra, is partly based in Delhi and runs an organization Pacific India For Transgenders.
She has learnt from Guru Kapila Raj Sharma of Luchnow. She has won Rashtriya Meera Samman bestowed by Ministry of Culture and Sanskar Bharti.
After revealing her feminine side, she fled from home for not being accepted at the age of fifteen years. She stayed with the transgenders, attended the night school as her destiny made her meet her guru.
She came back to Jaipur after losing her father at seventeen. She has performed at Prestigious concerts like Surajkund Mela, Pinjore Festival, Geeta Jayanti and many more. But still finds it difficult to have a handful of students as people have opinions about transgenders.
"I have been learning for eighteen years and have only two students," says Devendra, adding "Hijda is not a person, it is a profession, I realised the feminine aspect of me and established myself as a Kathak performer". The thirty three year old stays in Jaipur with her family and is promoting the art form as a dancer and a teacher.
C, 33, performed. The event is organised by North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala (Ministry of Culture, Govt of India) on Tuesday.
Devendra commenced her performance with a Tarana by Amir Khusro 'Yaar-e-man beya beya', followed by an uthaan, thaat, salami, paran and amad in Teentaal. She concluded with a thumri 'Ka se kahun sajni man ki batiyan' by Amir Khusro and a Darbari Tarana.
Devendra, who hails from Jaipur, is partly based in Delhi and runs an organization for transgenders. A disciple of Guru Kapila Raj Sharma of Lucknow, she has won Rashtriya Meera Samman from the ministry of culture and Sanskar Bharti.
After revealing her feminine side, she left home at 15 years of age, as she was accepted by her family. She stayed with the transgenders, attended the night school where she met her guru. She came back to Jaipur after losing her father at 17.
Despite a display of her talent at prestigious concerts like Surajkund Mela, Pinjore Festival, Geeta Jayanti etc., she still finds it difficult to have a handful of students as owing to people's bias against transgenders.
"I have been learning for 18 years and still have only two students," says Devendra, adding "Hijda is not a person, it is a profession. When I realised the feminine aspect of me, I established myself as a Kathak performer". Currently, she stays in Jaipur with her family and is promoting the art form as a dancer and teacher.