Last Updated on March 6, 2024 by Neelam Singh
Aryan Pasha was born as Nyla and from an early age he knew that he was born in the wrong body. His conviction and the support of his parents set him on the path of self-discovery and transition. Fuelled by a deep desire to redefine conventional notions of masculinity and body image, he ventured into the realm of bodybuilding. Today, he is India’s first trans man bodybuilder, a trailblazer in both the world of bodybuilding and transgender activism.
The fiancé of well known trans activist and public figure Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Pasha, is associated with various organisations that work towards the betterment of trans people in India. He runs sensitisation programmes for MNCs. In a detailed chat with THIP Media, Pasha shares some crucial aspects associated with gender transition or gender affirmation surgery, also known as gender reassignment surgery.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
Please tell us about the transformational journey from female to male. How long did it take and how many steps were involved?
Aryan Pasha: It was my step-mother who helped me figure this out. I had full support from my parents. She had studied psychology, which is why she could identify that I was not really happy. I was 16 years old and the year was 2008. She had some ideas so she educated herself and then all of us discussed it together. I would always wonder why I was born like this. I began connecting with the community and at that time it used to be really closed so it took me a year and a half to connect with another trans person. Then we started looking for doctors. I must mention that we went to a well-known mental health hospital in Dilshad Garden in Delhi for counseling and the doctor said that you would have to stay in the hospital for a month. My parents were shocked. They said that our child is mentally stable so there’s no need. Later, we went to Sitaram Bharatiya Hospital that had a full-fledged team of mental health counselors, surgeons, and endocrinologists for conducting gender-affirmation procedures. The doctors and the staff are trans friendly and sensitized.
I took a break from school for one and a half years and did my surgery. I changed my name and gender on all my official documents. When I resumed my studies, I was better at not just sports but even academics, where I used to be just average. I began concentrating on my studies. I scored well in my 12th class and went to Mumbai to pursue an LLB degree from Rizvi College of Arts, Science and Commerce.
What is a gender dysphoria certificate and what is its significance?
Aryan Pasha: GD or gender dysphoria certificate certifies that there is a mismatch between a person’s biological sex and their gender identity. One has to obtain this certificate from a doctor prior to the surgery. Earlier, it used to be a little difficult. Now every other doctor is ready to give you a GD certificate without any counseling. Ideally, the doctor should be satisfied that the patient is ready for the transition.
Some doctors are doing it just for money and there is no counseling involved. The person who is making the decision to make these physical changes should be made aware of the changes that will come with it and expenses to be incurred during and after the surgery.
Some people in the trans community think that if they transform into males, they will be able to produce sperm and have children. Some think that just because they are taking testosterone, they will be able to procreate, which is not right because it’s all synthetic and everything is happening superficially.
Now some hospitals demand the certificate and some don’t because there are no clear guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission. Some doctors who follow the WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) standards in the US ask for the certificate. Its guidelines also keep evolving. A few feel that there is no need as these standards are for the US and European countries.
Is there a need for clear guidelines?
Aryan Pasha: Yes, we need it for both doctors and patients. People are in a hurry to transition so they skip the counseling part. Many are into self-medication which is so harmful. If you are taking hormones, you need to do your blood work regularly to see how your body is responding. Counseling shouldn’t be skipped. I have seen many trans people quitting jobs, especially those who transition into women, and then struggling financially. It’s ok if you have planned it well but you shouldn’t quit your job suddenly with no plan B.
What should post-operative care include?
Aryan Pasha: One needs to ensure nutrition, a proper diet, follow-ups and medication as prescribed by the doctor. After the top surgery, you shouldn’t move your hands because I know of cases whose sutures came off. The person shouldn’t lift any weight. You shouldn’t sit on a bike after your phalloplasty or vaginoplasty but I have seen people get on bikes within 10 days of the surgery. If the doctor has advised you to wear compression garments for 2-4 months after the top surgery, you must wear them.
Also, one should be patient and shouldn’t hurry with the process. Whether or not you want to go for surgery is your choice, but once you decide, you must give yourself time to heal both mentally and physically. Counseling plays an important role in the entire transition.
There have been initiatives like eMpower App, Avahan – India AIDS initiative that work towards tackling AIDS among the trans community. Are these initiatives effective?
Aryan Pasha: We lack proper monitoring of these initiatives. While there is still some activity when it comes to trans-women, the area of trans men needs much more effort. Trans men are so hesitant to share their experiences. I know of a trans man who went to a party with his friends. He got drunk and his friends raped him. He had a lot of difficulty sharing this incident with others. I have asked NACO (National AIDS control organization) so many times to do a different programme for trans men. I tell them if they have a target of 100 trans people, at least 20 of them should be trans men. We run an organization called National Network for Transgender Persons, which trains other organizations. I am the joint-secretary and Laxmi is the President of the organization.
According to Statista, 200 transgender people in India died by suicide in 2020. There is a high suicide rate among trans people. What needs to be done to make things better?
Aryan Pasha: Mental health is not taken very seriously. Lives change drastically after transition. After you have transitioned into a male, the entire burden of running the household falls on the guy in a particular strata of the society, and he drowns under the pressure. Jobs are not easily available to trans people because of biases and lack of qualifications. We are trying to help trans people get job placement and also procuring a TG card – Transgender Card. The Transgender Protection Act 2019 makes it compulsory to have a TG Card for which one needs to apply on the National Portal for Transgender Persons with the required documents. The DMs who have the authority to issue the certificate are not aware of it so the files are put on hold for months. Since some companies insist on TG cards, trans people struggle to find jobs. We tell companies that they must explore alternatives to the TG card and provide opportunities for trans people. We run a lot of sensitisation programmes for companies. So, inclusion, acceptance and opportunities are important for trans people to feel happy and content.
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