Book Prelude..!!
Title: Dance Like a Trans
Author: Raghav Chinivar
Pages: 200
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication date: 09 Jun 2026
Publisher: Niyogi Books Private Limited
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the Author..!!
Raghav Chinivar, an engineering college dropout by choice, once aspired to be a cricketer. Without adequate support, he stepped away from the sport and pursued corporate work to sustain himself. In 2008, he resigned and began travelling across India, where long train journeys filled with reading across genres became a turning point. Travel, books, and encounters with people from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds awakened his passion for writing, which soon became a lifelong calling.
What began as a way to pass time soon evolved into a full-time pursuit of writing. This posthumous publication preserves Raghav Chinivar’s singular voice and literary vision.
Book Description..!!
Dance Like a Trans is no neat tale of triumph. It is a chronicle of losses—name, family, certainty, identity—and the act of retaining them.
Manjamma Jogathi discovered in folk theatre and Jogathi Nritya not just a calling but a language of survival. Born Manjunath in a small town in Karnataka’s Bellary district, she grew up watching village plays and temple performances, even as her womanhood struggled for expression. Ostracised by family, Manjunath’s uncertain childhood transformed into Manjamma’s consecration into the Jogathi tradition—a path at once ceremonial and stigmatised, sacrosanct and scorned.
From a mere spectator, she rose to the stage of the Karnataka Janapada Academy, which she led as its first trans woman president. Manjamma’s footwork carried her all the way to one of the nation’s highest honours, the Padma Shri.
To Start…!!
ಭಾರತೀಯ ಲೇಖಕರು, ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಪ್ರೇಮಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ವಯಂ ಉದ್ಯೋಗಿಯಾಗಿರುವ ರಾಘವ್ ಚಿನಿವಾರ್ ಅವರು ಪದ್ಮಶ್ರೀ ಪುರಸ್ಕೃತೆ ಡಾಕ್ಟರ್ ಮಾತ್ ಬಿ. ಮಂಜಮ್ಮ ಜೋಗತಿ ಅವರ ಜೀವನ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಧನೆಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದ ‘𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗝𝗼𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶’ ಎಂಬ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕವು “𝙽𝚒𝚢𝚘𝚐𝚒 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜” ಎಂಬ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯಿಂದ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಾಯಿತು.
ರಾಘವ್ ತಮ್ಮ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಂಜಮ್ಮನವರ ಜೀವನದ ಹಲವಾರು ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ತಮ್ಮ ಪಾಠಕರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ರಾಘವ್ ತಮ್ಮ ರಚನೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಮಾತ್ ಜೋಗತಿ ಅವರ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಎದುರಾಗಿರುವ ಏರಿಳಿತಗಳನ್ನು ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿದಂತೆ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ತಾವು ಈ ಲೋಕದಿಂದ ನಿಧನರಾದರೂ ತಮ್ಮ ರಚನೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ನಮ್ಮ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ಜೀವಂತವಾಗಿಯೇ ಇರುತ್ತಾರೆ.
Book précis…!!!
This is a story portrayal of B. Manjunatha Shetty, who was destined to transform into Manjamma Jogathi, born on 20th May 1957 at Kampli under the divine blessings of Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatha Swamy to the couple Hanumanthiah Shetty and Jayalakshmi, hailing from Kallukamba and Hospet, respectively. The author, the late Raghav Chinivar, an engineering college dropout and aspiring cricketer, steps out exploring the Indian subcontinent in 2008, turns his reading habit into an accomplished passion, and explores and encounters people from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, which eventually ignites the spark of passionate writing, which soon becomes his full-time métier.
My Preamble…!!!
Raghav’s exceptional bonding and deeper connection with Manjamma Jogathi enabled this book to be extra special and endearing. While Manjamma Jogathi and her life experiences are well-known through podcasts, interviews, and diversified book offerings, Raghav’s Dance Like a Trans is incomparable, as this treatise conveys a deeper connection, cherishable moments, and intimacy. Unlike the conventional memoirs or autobiographies I have read, the flow of this book will make readers reflect on a panoramic walk through the life of Jogathi Manjamma via the writings of Raghav Chinivar.
Book Prelude..!!
Focusing on affinity and relationships, this profound offering stands out for its giveaways, such as reflective questions, practical exercises, “Things to Think About” sections, worksheets, an influential glossary, intriguing illustrations, and imperative ordonnance. The author’s ability to extract the necessary expel deserves all accolades; this book is designed to provide practical techniques and strategies that are essential for every human’s everyday living. Gaur Ji bolsters the importance of having deeper human connections and enriched relationships amidst a world being run in a secluded gamut.
My Takeaway..!!
The feminine transformation from Manjunatha to Manjamma was profoundly presented by the late Raghav in this book. The changeover timelines left me seriously emotional. Also, events like her family leaving Manjamma deserted during her bad days, assaults by rowdies, belittling, and societal denial made me acknowledge the grief Manjamma underwent during her rough days.
I sincerely appreciate Raghav’s portrayal; my entire read of this treatise was teary-eyed. This story also alarmed me to pray to ಶ್ರೀ ಹುಲಿಗಮ್ಮ ದೇವಿ to bless the possession of valuable persons like Radhamma, Girijamma, Thimmanna, and Bhagamma; after all, God showers their blessings in the form of well-wishers and supporters during our bad days.
Book furtherance..!!
If I happen to bisect this biography into two sections, I would call the first chunk the ‘struggle of existential identity’ and the second part as ‘success amidst the suffering’; the journey towards becoming a Jogathi, a communal Hijra tradition of Karnataka loaded with traditional beliefs and religious practices dating back to the era of Goddess Yellamma (Renuka Devi, the form of Parvati who was the mother of Lord Parashurama, the incarnation of Maha Vishnu).
Raghav rightfully elucidates the evolution and history of transgenders, especially the Jogathi traditions, at the end of the book and deduces the closer connection with Manjamma’s furtherance into the Jogathi clan.
Book adoration..!!
The most adorable part of this work is the impactful composition of Manjamma’s life events, treasured memories, and days filled with grief and sorrow. Raghav, of course, through continuous poignant discussions with ಮಾತ್ ಬಿ.ಮಂಜಮ್ಮ ಜೋಗತಿ, offered chapters that resonated with me like an outstanding teleplay throughout the read. Credits go to the simple vocabulary and enthralling story narration; I am sure readers will go through an emotional rollercoaster throughout the read. Also, the lucid flow and characteristic detailing will offer readers an unputdownable endurance.
Inquisitive Emphasis..!!
I wish the author had considered adding a few pictures from Manjamma’s life archives so that the readers could have felt a sense of accomplishment. Being a South Indian, specifically a Kannadiga, I also wished to see some Kannada words or sentences, as I see most of the Kannada pada was fully translated into English, which would have sounded better in the native Kannada language.
Conclusion..!!
While every chapter carries its own weight as the story proceeds, for me, the two peaks in the read were “Of Death and its Impact” and “Some Changes with Age“; these two established the advancements of how Manjamma raises herself from a normal Jogathi to the Karnataka Rajyotsava Prashasti conferred Jogathi Manjamma. Also, events like taking over the chief position in her team stand as an inspiration to rise above odds to taste the nectar of success.
End Note..!!!
Unveiling the journey from Manjunatha Shetty to Padma Shri awardee Matha B. Manjamma Jogathi by rising beyond social constructs, this book is a perfect tribute to all the efforts she put not just into her life, but into the Jogathi community.
As Matha says, “The sun began to shine brighter as the clouds drifted away,” which stands out as a perfect conclusion to her days of suffering. I sincerely pray to Goddess Yellamma to shower blessings on ‘ಮಾತ್ ಬಿ.ಮಂಜಮ್ಮ ಜೋಗತಿ’ for many more victories and the triumph of her along with the Jogathi community.
This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program.
Links & Footnotes..!!
My Handle: Kiran_Kumar_Adharapuram
You can also explore my works -> Here
My Non-Fiction Book Reviews -> Here
My Fiction Book Reviews -> Here
My Self-Help Book Reviews -> Here
