Srishti Madurai 5 years in my eyes - Akssar Chandran, Student, Kendriya Vidyalaya Madurai
Today people are no stranger to the works of SRISHTI Madurai. SRISHTI is
known for its instrumental work in addressing issues related to gender and
sexual orientation. The amount of work done by SRISHTI makes one think of it as
a well-established organization which may be running for a long time. But the
reality is quite astonishing.
SRISHTI in fact has very humble beginnings at the
American college just about four years ago. SRISHTI was started by Mr. M.Gopi
Shankar and his fellow college students on 2nd September 2011. It is a student
body which has worked for the LGBTQIA community in Madurai and its
surroundings. Despite all this SRISHTI doesn’t identify itself as an
organization. And it justifiably differs on a lot of grounds from a regular NGO.
For starters SRISHTI is self-sufficient, unlike other welfare organizations
SRISHTI is not dependent on the donations. SRISHTI is funded by its various
member who contribute, for instance the founder, Mr. M. Gopi Shankar, taught
Yoga to contribute to SRISHTI. Furthermore SRISHTI does not act like a
commercial office where people do social work as an occupation. The members of
SRISHTI in fact have their own occupations through which they aid SRISHTIand
its activities.
The member of SRISHTI believe that every drop of water
contributes to the ocean and hence contribute every bit they can. SRISHTI is
its members and its member are SRISHTI. Such is the way the organization works,
by helping oneself and the people around them, the whole society can be
bettered. This does not mean the work done by SRISHTI is small, it is in-fact
world class. SRISHTI has organized several events and programs for the
community at a global standard. They have organized Asia’s first genderqueer
parade which was a success at the very first attempt with participants coming
in from far and beyond. SRISHTI has also organized a unique film festival
screening movies regarding sexual orientation.
SRISHTI has also recognized
other activists and writers with awards for their contribution. SRISHTI has
also devised programs for education on gender and sexual orientation and
carried out the same in various educational institutions. Through this programs
SRISHTI has been able to spread awareness on this topic which is still
considered a taboo by many.
The biggest achievement of SRISHTI can be said to
be the fact that it has been able to do all this in Madurai, which is
considered to be one of the more conservative towns. In-fact with the help of
SRISHTI Madurai has become more open minded than many of the metro cities in
the acceptance of gender queers. The standard of work done by SRISHTI is made
very high with the help of several luminaries including Ms. Anjali Gopalan and
Dr. Bracha Ettinger who have constantly supported SRISHTIsince its inception.
The hard work of SRISHTI’s membersworking as a self-less team has been a key
factor for its humongous success. SRISTHI in fact has done work at quarter the
time and money taken by other well established NGOs.
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