The Beginning of a Journey
When Jaanu came to speak with us at SheLit, there was something in her eyes that immediately drew us in—a mix of courage, vulnerability, and quiet determination. She sat across from us, taking a deep breath, as if preparing to relive every moment of her life. And then she began to speak, slowly, thoughtfully, letting every word carry the weight of her journey.
“I chose my name deliberately. Jaanu is gender-neutral. I wanted people to see me for who I am—not the body I was born with, not the labels society tries to place on me. Just… Jaanu.”
She told us about the day she left her home at sixteen. Her family had realized that her habits were not like a boy’s, and instead of trying to understand her, they disowned her. Alone, scared, and just a child, she moved to Bangalore. She had no idea how she would survive, but she had to try. She started working as a mehendi artist.
“At first, life seemed to offer a little hope,” she said. “I was earning, I had a roof over my head, and I could breathe freely for the first time.”
Life’s Unexpected Challenges
But that hope was fragile. When Jaanu fully embraced her identity as a transgender woman, life became a storm. She lost her job. Her family cut all ties. Friends she thought would stand by her disappeared. And then the lockdown hit. Suddenly, she was without work, without money, sometimes without food. The loneliness was suffocating.
“There were nights I went to bed hungry. I had no one to talk to. Even in the transgender community, I sometimes felt out of place because I wanted to break free from the boxes society had created for us.”
Yet, even in the darkest moments, Jaanu refused to give up. She told us how she clung to her skills, her creativity, and her inner spark, determined to survive and build a life on her own terms.
“I knew my only way forward was through my skills. I tried learning dance, tried different things… anything to hold on to hope.”
Discovering Ventriloquism
Then, one day, she saw a ventriloquist on America’s Got Talent. Something inside her clicked. She had always loved mimicking voices, creating characters, making people laugh—but she had never imagined that this could become her path.
Money was tight, but she found a way to enroll in an online course from Kolkata. She practiced relentlessly, day and night. Slowly, she honed her skills. And then she created Chotu.
“Chotu became more than a puppet,” she told us, her voice softening. “He was my friend, my family, my companion. When I cried, he cried with me. When I laughed, he laughed with me. He was always there when the world had turned its back on me.”
Even within the transgender community, Jaanu faced criticism. Many expected her to follow the conventional paths society had set for trans people in India, like begging or working in red-light areas. But Jaanu refused. She wanted more. And Chotu loved her unconditionally.
“He was the only one who stayed when everyone else walked away.”
Recognition, But a Greater Longing
Recently, Jaanu became the first transgender ventriloquist in India to receive a world record. Media outlets cover her work, people follow her on Instagram, and she performs at small events. But even with recognition and growing fame, her heart longs for something more.
“I don’t need India to love me,” she said quietly. “I just need my parents. I want their touch. Their love. Their respect. I’ve achieved so much, but without them… it feels incomplete.”
She doesn’t want to be remembered as the first or last transgender ventriloquist. She wants to be remembered simply as a good human being—Jaanu. Her dream is not about awards or fame. It is about acceptance, love, and belonging.
A Story of Hope
Listening to Jaanu, we felt every struggle, every tear, every spark of hope that has carried her through life. She survived hunger and rejection. She survived loneliness and betrayal. She cried, she laughed, she learned.
And yet, despite everything, she continues to dream. Her greatest wish remains the same: that one day her parents will see her, accept her, and love her for who she truly is.
“I am still here,” she said, eyes glistening, “hoping, dreaming… that one day, my family will embrace me, just as I am.”
Jaanu’s story is a testament to resilience, courage, and the power of hope. She shows us that even when the world turns away, a spark inside us can guide the way—and that sometimes, love from the people who matter most is the most powerful force of all.