In Photos: Meet Madhuri & Jay, India’s First Transgender Couple
Madhuri Sarode & her husband Jay Sharma were recently in the news for their first open transgender marriage.
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When I came across this couple I was blown away. All the conventional ideas about love seemed frivolous and small in front of their journey. Madhuri Sarode and her husband, Jay Rajnath Sharma were recently in the news for their first open transgender marriage in Mumbai.
A guy with roots from a UP’s Hindu family falling for a transgender and marrying her openly in a traditional Hindu ceremony.
A transgender breaking the norms and living life on her own terms, not succumbbing to society’s pressure.
Madhuri Sarode and Jay Rajnath Sharma's love story inspired me to go and have a closer look at their world. So, I went ahead to live with them for a couple of days and captured their life together.
Madhuri’s beauty is guarded by Jay with honour and pride. Jay’s courage in accepting Madhuri in all her glory makes her shine even more bright. This couple’s requited love is an example we all need in today’s time.
Madhuri’s valiant act of following her heart and pursuing her dreams went unnoticed in front of Jay. He could not stop but fell in love with her.
They have their moments like any other couple. They kiss, they hug, they cry, and they fight over small things. But how strong their relationship is, can be seen in public. They take pride in each other and their love.
Every picture tells a story and portrays them as an unbiased couple. And their love is real and the struggles they overcome on daily basis dwarfs the so-called 'love-problems' other couples face.
It was Jay who took the first step in their relationship and approached Madhuri. Madhuri is glad she gave in to her instincts. Finding the solace in each other they have used this in surviving the beast the outer world is.
This exceptional couple broke all social norms and tied the knot openly in a temple on 28th December, 2016 in the presence of their family and friends which set an example not only for the TG community but also for this world to know that their love is as raw and big as this maximum city.
What makes a story bigger is the impact it has on others. Madhuri is going to apply for her marriage certificate as a transgender so that she can fight and leave a legacy behind for other transgenders wanting to be accepted and live their lives like any other individual with equal status and rights.
The ease that this couple has, the tranquility they reflect when they are together, be it in private or public can calm anyone’s inner demons down. That’s the strength this couple roars.
After going public with their love story to inspire others, they are having their share of personal problems. From their jobs to families to applying for their marriage certificate, every thing is taking a toll on them. But they are fighting and marching ahead with a smile on their faces and holding on to their silver linings. Their story is infectious, inspiring and heart wrenching.
(Anu Pattnaik is a self-taught photographer from Bhubaneswar, Odisha who specialises in movie stills. Now based in Mumbai, she has worked on several Bollywood feature films as the on-set photographer.)
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