Devika Devendra S Manglamukhi

Devika Devendra S Manglamukhi is a trailblazing transgender rights activist, Kathak artist, and advocate for gender equality in India. Originally from Rajasthan and now based in Agra, she serves as a State Executive Member Advisor to the Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board and is affiliated with the BJP.

As India’s first transgender Kathak performer, she has gained national recognition, receiving the prestigious Meera Samman from the Government of India. Her performances have graced cultural festivals like Khajuraho Nritya Samaroh, Modhera Nritya Samaroh, Taj Mahotsav, and international stages.

Beyond the arts, Devika is a vegan, writer, and animal rights activist. She played a key role in establishing India’s first Transgender Clinical Care Unit at SGPGIMS, Lucknow, and advocating for separate washrooms for transgender individuals. She also contributed to launching India’s first transgender library and founded the Chambal Literature Festival.

A respected educator, Devika is a visiting faculty at LBSNAA, Mussoorie and has trained police officers at the Delhi and Rajasthan Police Academies on gender sensitivity. Her work in activism, education, and the arts makes her a powerful voice for inclusivity and social change in India.