TAMANNA: Sign Up For South Asia’s First Transmasculine Residency

I have always been fascinated by the story of Shikhandin from the Mahabharata. A woman scorned, reincarnated, tranformed by her righteous rage, who transitioned into a man to exact revenge. Shikhandin is perhaps the best-known example of a trans figure in Indian mythology, but he is not alone. There are many like him, like Arjuna, who lived as Brihannala — a gender-queer dancer — during his exile; and like Chitrangada, born a princess, raised as a prince, who — having fallen in love with Arjuna — de-transitions and embraces her femininity. There exists in Indian myths and legends, both tacit and explicit acceptance of queerness as a fact of life. Yet, queer individuals continued to be ostracised in Indian society, othered and pushed to the margins.

'Tamanna: Our Bodies, Our Stories', is an attempt to resist this ostracisation and reclaim trans narratives, voices, and above all: space. A landmark moment for gender justice and creative self-expression by the Transmen Collective, the initiative is the first fellowship dedicated to transmasculine voices in South Asia. Rooted in love, imagination, and collective liberation, 'Tamanna' — which means “desire” in Urdu — seeks to reclaim the right to pleasure, safety, and selfhood for trans men, non-binary, and gender-diverse people on the masculine spectrum.

For too long, transmasculine people have been shamed or silenced for expressing desire — for their bodies, their identities, and their freedom. Tamanna aims to challenge this culture of invisibility by creating a space where participants can tell their stories, dream collectively, and build tools that respond to their lived realities.

Through mentorship and peer learning, fellows will explore topics like sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), pleasure, mental health, and violence — reframing these conversations from within the transmasculine experience. Each fellow will co-create a project that reflects both personal and collective narratives, guided by mentors from the fields of activism, design, and SRHR advocacy.

The fellowship also emphasizes community support circles — affirming spaces to share experiences of desire, vulnerability, and resilience. These spaces allow participants to move beyond survival narratives and envision queer joy, intimacy, and belonging as political acts. In doing so, Tamanna hopes to seed a generation of community leaders who can challenge stigma and reimagine health and rights frameworks to include transmasculine experiences.

While the fellowship focuses on India-based participants, the Transmen Collective will also open selected sessions to transmasculine people across South Asia, encouraging regional dialogue and solidarity. Applicants are not required to hold legal ID, and confidentiality will be fully respected as an important privacy measure in a region where bureaucratic and social barriers often marginalise gender-queer individuals.

The fellowship is open to applicants aged 18 to 40 based in India, and will run from December 2025 to June 2026, beginning with a two-day residential training in November. Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000, as well as funds for community-based storytelling projects — from zines and films to workshops and campaigns. Travel, lodging, and participation in a National Summit in June 2026 will be fully covered.

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