On Monday, Matha B Manjamma Jogati, a transgender folk dancer from Karnataka, was one of the recipients of the Padma awards. Manjamma, a member of the Jogamma family, was awarded the Padma Shri in the field of art for the year 2020.
She is the first trans woman president of the Karnataka Janapada Academy, a state-run organization dedicated to folklore preservation and protection.
President Ram Nath Kovind claimed in a tweet about Manjamma that she was instrumental in popularizing folk art forms in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra, and sections of Andhra Pradesh.
People have widely shared and praised a video of the folk musician receiving the Padma Shri from President Obama. Manjamma is seen stepping into the renowned Durban Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan and approaching President Kovind after her name is announced. What she did after that appeared to delight both the President and the audience. She made a special move with the pallu of her saree, which is traditionally done to ward off the evil eye.
#WATCH | Transgender folk dancer of Jogamma heritage and the first transwoman President of Karnataka Janapada Academy, Matha B Manjamma Jogati receives the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind. pic.twitter.com/SNzp9aFkre
— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2021
The video, which was uploaded by news agency ANI, has received over 1.6 million views in less than 24 hours.
President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Matha B. Manjamma Jogati for Art. She is the Chairman of Karnataka Janapada (Folklore) Academy. She has been instrumental in popularizing the folk art forms practised in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/bXslLbHwli
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 9, 2021
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