When I was about seven years old, the time when you start school... (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(02 of19)
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My interests were different than my [male] friends. I was never interested in what they did. \r\n(0:05.5) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(03 of19)
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It was the same in the house too. While others went and played outside ... \r\n(0:12.1) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(04 of19)
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I rejoiced staying indoors, being with my mother and sisters. I had fun being amid them. \r\n(0:17.3) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(05 of19)
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So it was during that time, when I was about seven or eight years old ...\r\n(0:23.7) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(06 of19)
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I knew I was different than others. But I really didn\'t know how was I different. \r\n(0:30.4) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(07 of19)
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I realized that I was like this-- a little different-- after my tenth grade. \r\n(0:36.6) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(08 of19)
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It was during high school that I had come to know. But I hadn\'t really disclosed to anyone. \r\n(0:43.9) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(09 of19)
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And it was after my undergrad years in college that I told my family about myself. \r\n( 0:50) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(10 of19)
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And after I was accepted by my family, I thought I should open up to the society as well and told them about my identity and rights.\r\n (0:57.5) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(11 of19)
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No one can look down on us; we all are humans and should be treated equal. That\'s how I expressed myself. \r\n(1:06.9) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(12 of19)
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My birth name is Krishna Thapa. I changed my name into a female name for this Beauty and Brain [transgender] beauty contest in 2008. \r\n(1:15.6) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(13 of19)
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The main reason behind renaming myself Jyoti is because Jyoti means giving light, isn\'t it? \r\n(1:23.3) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(14 of19)
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[I want to] lighten up the place where its dark; spread knowledge where there is ignorance, and rise as a ray of knowledge. \r\n(1:29.6) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(15 of19)
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Even if I can\'t do anything big, at least from where I am, I have made an effort. \r\n(1:39) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(16 of19)
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People like me should have their own identity. As a human being, we should have equal rights. \r\n(1:46.3) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(17 of19)
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I have started this advocacy from my own village and community for people to understand. \r\n(1:53.5) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(18 of19)
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In future, people should remember that I am the way I am. \r\n(1:59) (credit:Bibek Bhandari)
(19 of19)
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That\'s why I chose this name: Jyoti. \r\n(2:04.7)\r\n (credit:Bibek Bhandari)