Naina Singh--the 16 year-old who fought all odds to become a girl

The journey of Krishna Singh to becoming Naina Singh

Vasant Valley School student Krishna Singh is now Naina Singh. The boy shed all the inhibitions and crossed the gender divide in July this year when he parted with his boy s uniform for good. Krishna Singh has started with his hormone replacement therapy and now wears a salwar kameez to school. The surgery for sex reassignment will be carried out once she appears for her Class XII exams.

At 16, Naina is young to identify herself as a transgender. Most kids identify themselves as homosexuals first and are then asked to stay in the closet by their parents due to societal embarrassment. Mishi Singh, Naina s mother was not anything like these parents. She, in fact, finds her daughter s legs pretty. Mishi started visiting a counselor 2011 onwards when she suspected that her son was gay. Krishna would always choose soft toys over remote control cars. He would ask for wigs or make them with ribbons.

At the age of 12, Krishna used the counsellor s line and told Mishi, I think I m openly confused about being gay . Finally on August 20, 2013, he came out of the closet and revealed to the world. People still looked at her as a boy and expected him to have muscles. In India, transgenders are often considered as cross dressers. Time passed and despite the family s support, depression and suicide attempts creeped in Krishna s mind in early 2014. Finally in September 2014, the counselors called the family and informed them that Krishna is a woman and not a boy.

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Mishi was glad that Krishna, now Naina was blessed to have very supportive friends too. This generation is more liberal and open-minded. From saving her from the suicide attempt to shopping with her at mall helping her find size 10 heels, they were always there for her. Her friends even rallied so that she could write her exams.

Krishna is now enjoying the transformation phase. She is growing her hair, loves applying make-up, has a Youtube channel (Nainaqueenb) where she shares her experiences and like every teenager even has a selfie light in her room to capture her journey from Krishna to Naina. Before giving up on her boy uniform, Naina along with Mishi went to Mumbai and shopped. The mother and daughter had a hearty discussion on laser-hair removal and hormone replacement therapy. Mishi was thrilled to see her daughter so happy. Unfortunately, hormone blockers to stop changing of voice cannot be used as it is too late.

Once back, Naina told her principal that she will not be wearing the boys uniform anymore. Naina is currently registered with CBSE as a transgender and is allowed to attend school as a girl. The legal proceedings for name and gender change will follow post surgery. Naina plans to head abroad for studies post recovery from surgery. The principal of Vasant Valley also allowed Naina to tell her story to the senior classes.

Everything was not so easy as it may sound for Mishi. She had to answer so many people even kids who always wondered why Krishna was wearing girls clothes. However, the immediate family and friends accepted the situation and embraced Naina with open arms and minds. Just like Mishi, parents need to understand to handle such situations in a way that is in the best interest of their child instead of losing them to drugs or depression.

With inputs from Times of India

Image Source: Times of India