Identities are more than mere labels we carry. They shape us, define the boundaries of our existence, and influence how society perceives us. Yet identities can also be prisons, confining individuals to roles they do not belong to, and masking their true selves.
I Am Vidya: A Transgender’s Journey, the powerful autobiography of Living Smile Vidya, is a compelling testament to this dual nature of identity, the conflict, the courage, and the eventual claim to one’s true self.
Living Smile Vidya, often affectionately called Smiley, is an Indian actress, writer, assistant director, and activist who has emerged as a pioneering voice in the fight for transgender and Dalit rights in India. Her life story, captured in I Am Vidya, reveals a journey marked by immense hardship, social rejection, physical suffering, and emotional resilience. It is a narrative of transformation, both personal and political.
