Rituparna Neog is a trans woman, storyteller, educator, and gender rights activist dedicated to promoting education and eradicating gender discrimination. She has established two free libraries in her village and has conducted sessions on gender equality in over 40 universities.
Rituparna Neog had a typical childhood like most children. However, during her teenage years, she faced bullying due to her mannerisms being perceived as feminine. Amidst the chaos of finding her true identity, she found herself without friends. To cope with her loneliness, she befriended books, which eventually became a safe place for her. Driven by her passion for reading, she established a free library accessible to people of all ages.
Who is Rituparna Neog?
Rituparna Neog is a trans woman, storyteller, educator, and gender rights activist dedicated to promoting education and eradicating gender discrimination. In the year 2015, she completed her studies at the Data Institute of Social Sciences and subsequently founded an NGO. Her foundation focuses on addressing social issues and promoting gender equality. Her foundation is currently engaged with the task of establishing free libraries in villages.
Enduring challenges
Surviving school was a challenge for Rituparna as she was often subjected to bullying due to her body language and expressions. She could not participate in the groups with other children and could only visit the restrooms in quiet hours. To avoid bullying, she spent most of her time in school library, where she found solace in the books.
Family’s support
Fortunately, Rituparna Neog received unwavering support from her family during challenging times. Her parents consistently motivated her to focus and excel in her studies. Recognizing the power of books, she resolved to educate every child in her village. She actively collaborated with social work societies in Assam while doing a job. Her aim was to establish a free library, and to support her endeavour, she saved funds from her own salary.
Free libraries and storytelling sessions
During the lockdown, Rituparna started an online storytelling program, where she engaged with people especially children. She gained success through this endeavour, and subsequently established the first free library in her village that consisted of an impressive collection of 600 books, which has now grown to 1200 books. Today, there are two free libraries in her village.
Additionally, Rituparna dedicates her time to educating people on gender discrimination. She has conducted her storytelling sessions in over 40 universities and has raised awareness about gender discrimination among more than 10,000 people.
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