15-Year-Old Raynah Hazari gets Members of the Transgender Community to Paint on Umbrellas

As the Pride Month draws to a close, Raynah Hazari, a standard IX student, aims to bring about a lasting change with the help of her Art - brings together 50 members of the transgender community to paint on umbrellas in an event titled ‘Falak’, fostering a more inclusive environment by helping them express themselves through the medium of Art, and hoping to help them secure employment opportunities through the same…

As a society, we propagate the idea of individuals being encouraged to freely experience, embrace and express themselves – but unfortunately, that does not hold true for all of us! To uphold one such community who finds this freedom conditional, the pride month was created. And the 15-year-old Raynah Hazari, a student at Hill Spring International School, may just be the spearheading young leader in this matter. Raynah is working on ‘Falak’ a platform for people who identify as transgender, to come together and ‘paint their realities’ on umbrellas at an event organised with the help of her mentor, artist Satyendra Rane, under the aegis of Sahayog Art Foundation at the Matushri Velbai Sabhagraha in Matunga on July 2, 2023. Umbrellas shield us from harsh sunlight and the vagaries of heavy rain, and young Raynah surely has chosen a metaphorically beautiful medium to showcase her support. Besides Sahayog Art Foundation, the event is ably supported by the non-profit organisations Aabha and Alert Citizen Forum.

Raynah Hazari has only recently turned 15 but for her “art has always been a part of my life. Even as a little girl, I found solace in the imaginative world of colours and shapes, and spent hours doodling little pieces with my crayons.” While Art has always been a medium for her to express herself, now it has become more than just a hobby - acting as a stress-buster to escape from the pressures of everyday life - a tiny oasis of calm and tranquillity. “Art has taught me to think outside-the-box and see the world in a different light,” and that’s how she has hit upon this unique concept for members of the transgender community to get a taste of the same tranquillity.

Raynah is not only artistic in her temperament but also very perceptive. She has always noticed how, despite being part of our society, the transgender community is separated by an unspoken barrier from the rest of us. “We encounter them every day, through our car windows and at traffic signals, offering blessings from an arm’s length. However, it’s only recently while following the LGBTIQA+ community’s struggles for marriage rights that I delved deeper into an understanding of their day-t0-day experiences and the social injustice that is meted out to them which runs so deep that it affects their daily existence and livelihood,” she laments.

Realising the immense hardships faced by the community, Raynah wanted to train the spotlight on its plight, albeit in a positive, artistic fashion. ‘Falak’ will see about 50 participants from the community ‘paint their realities’ on umbrellas. Raynah hopes to get a clearer insight of their realities that can help bridge the societal divide created between our two worlds. She quips, “Art is not just about creating visually striking pieces — it’s chiefly about conveying emotions, telling stories, and most importantly, making an impact. Through ‘Falak’, signifying skies with no boundaries, I am hoping they get to paint their worries away, allowing for them to let go.” Her mentor, Satyendra Rane imparts with pride, “At Sahayog Art Foundation, we encourage young minds to contribute to society through the medium of Art and we were thrilled when Raynah came to us with the concept of ‘Falak’. It gives us immense joy to support this huge initiative from this little girl!”

Raynah Hazari believes that in the long run, through the medium of Art, ‘Falak’ could be a stepping stone for the members of the transgender community to earn a livelihood, which is often denied to them in a country like ours. And we say, touché!