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Define or Get Defined: The Untold Story of “Shakti”
Author: Omsai Shinde (Partnership & Insights Executive (CSR)
September 16, 2025
“Aa paisa de na…” clap clap the familiar call of a member of the kinnar (transgender) community echoed through the compartment of a train I was traveling in, on my way back from Kolkata to Mumbai after attending a development programme.
At first, like most people, my mind echoed the common perception: why are they begging instead of working? Why not earn through a job? It is easy to assume that begging is a choice, an “easier” way out. But soon, my own social education and exposure to theories made me pause and reflect. Do they really have the privilege of choice, or has society already defined it for them?
To test this thought, I asked a few simple questions to my friends. Would you hire a transgender person in your shop? Would you employ one as your driver? Would you be comfortable if your child’s teacher was transgender? The answer, in each case, was a hesitant but firm no.
That was a moment of clarity. The challenge was not about people “choosing” begging it was about society systematically denying them opportunities, acceptance, and dignity. When every door jobs, education, even family is closed, what options are truly left open?
This realization stayed with me and became stronger when I joined Socion Impact Advisory. My very first assignment was on the Enable the Shakti project, an initiative aimed at mentoring and supporting winners from diverse backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community.
As part of this project, I was connected with Sunny Sharma, founder of Transkriti a transgender-led, inclusive fashion brand. Our conversation over a call gave me a glimpse into the resilience and determination that often remain hidden behind the labels society imposes.
Sunny shared how they had been abandoned by their family at a young age. In such a situation, following the path of begging or performing on trains as many in their community are forced to do would have been easy, even expected. But Sunny chose differently. They decided to define their own identity on their own terms.
Through Transkriti, Sunny is building more than just a fashion brand. They are creating a platform for inclusivity, empowerment, and livelihoods for others in the LGBTQ+ community. Their words to me were simple yet powerful: “My aspiration is to empower and generate livelihood opportunities for others in my community.”
This touched me deeply, because in those words lies the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The central promise of the SDGs is that no one should be left behind. Yet the transgender community is one of the most marginalized, often invisible in mainstream development narratives. Sunny’s journey is living proof of what happens when even one individual refuses to be left behind they carry an entire community forward with them.
Their story also reflects the spirit of SDG 5: Gender Equality. Equality is not only about balancing numbers in workplaces or legislatures; it is about breaking down barriers that deny dignity and opportunity. By creating livelihoods and safe spaces for others in their community, Sunny is translating the essence of SDG 5 into action ensuring that gender equality includes all genders, not just the binary.
To me, this reflects the true essence of Shakti not just lifting oneself up, but creating opportunities that uplift an entire community. Sunny’s courage and vision embody what real changemaking looks like: breaking stereotypes, challenging social norms, and reshaping narratives for future generations.
Their story is also a reminder for us as a society. If we continue to define people by narrow perceptions, we leave them with no choice but to live within those confines. But when individuals like Sunny reclaim their narrative, they remind us that change is possible.
I feel fortunate to be a part of this journey of impact. It has taught me that inclusion is not a token gesture but a responsibility. And it starts by questioning our own assumptions, by creating spaces where everyone can thrive, and by remembering the central promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): no one should be left behind.
Because at the heart of it all, life offers us a simple choice:
“Define yourself, or get defined by others”
