Manjamma Jogathi | |
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 Manjamma Jogathi (center) with other folklorists. | |
| Born | Manjunatha Shetty (1957-05-20)20 May 1957 (age 68) |
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| Awards | Rajyotsava Award (2010) Padma Shri (2021) |
Manjamma Jogathii (bornManjunatha Shetty; 20 May 1957), is an Indian theatre actress, singer and dancer of Jogathi Nritya, a folk dance form of North Karnataka. In 2019, she became the first transgender women to be the president of Karnataka Janapada Academy, state's top institution for folk arts.[1][2][3] In January 2021,Government of India announcedPadma Shri award for her contribution to the field of folk arts.[4][5]
Jogathi was born as Manjunatha Shetty in Kallukamba village inKarnataka'sBellary district to Hanumanthaiah and Jayalakshmi.[6] She was married to Jogappa, aHindu deity owing to a ritual and was not allowed to return home.[7] She was then known as Manjamma Jogathi. After leaving her house aged 15, she identified herself as a woman. Having completed education only tillClass 10, she resorted to begging. During this time, she was sexually abused. Later, a father and son duo introduced her to dancing and took her to dance teacher Kallavva Jogathi, where she learnt the Jogathi dance.[8]
Manjamma became a permanent dancer in Kallavva Jogathi's dance group, performing in different parts of India.[9] After Kallavva's death, Manjamma took over the troupe and made the dance popular among the people. In 2010, she received theRajyotsava award by theKarnataka Government. She was awardedPadma Shri, fourth highest civilian award ofRepublic of India in 2021.
She was first appointed as the member of theKarnataka Jaanapada Academy and later as the president of the same institution by the State government, which made her the first trans woman to head the top institution for Performing arts in the state.[10]