India, July 30 -- It is inspiring to recall that seven decades ago, Hansa Mehta, a member of the Constituent Assembly, ensured that the phrase "All men are born free and equal" in the first Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was changed to "All human beings are born free and equal".

In Hindu mythology, there is an ancient cultural acknowledgment of gender fluidity. Yet, for decades, transgender people simply did not exist in the eyes of the law. They lived, struggled, raised families, danced at births, mourned at funerals, and were part of India's social and spiritual fabric for centuries. Still, they remained on the margins, shunned from society, denied basic rights and targeted for their gender identities. And legally...