Gopi Shankar Madurai

Gopi was born as Sarvapunya S Mukhopadyaya in Sellur slum at Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He was raised by his maternal grandparents who belongs Kattunayakan and Vaduge community. He identifies himself as Tamilian of Telugu and Bengali origin. At the age of fourteen he started volunteering Ramakrishna Mission later he was accepted as a probationer for being a monk at Ramakrishna Math. He studied Religion, Philosophy, and Sociology at The American College in Madurai later discontinued it. Gopi is a student of Yoga for past 15 years and Yoga Instructor for past 5 years. He taught Yoga and Indian Philosophy to more than 5000 students & "Indian Religions" class for many westerners including Tony MacMahon of Ireland. He partly freelance dailies and the New Horizon Media Pvt Ltd (Tamil Publications).

Gopi is founder of Srishti Madurai Volunteer Movement one of the inclusive non-funded pro bono group of its kind which has involved academicians, Independent scholars, human rights activist, environmentalists, animal rights activists and LGBTQIA, genderqueer activists aiming to protect the Indigenous traditions. On October 2011 he launched India's first helpline for genderqueer, LGBTQIA people at Madurai. Later in June 2013 the helpline turned to offer service for 24 hours with a tagline Just having someone understanding to talk to can save a life. He also organized Asia's first Genderqueer Pride Parade at Madurai. Gopi also introduced LGBTQIA courses in few schools and universities curciculam He was also a young panelist to share chair in University Grants Commission of India (UGC) and Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (ICSSR) sponsored National Seminars in India, he conducted more than 85 Seminars, Interactive sessions on Gender & Sexuality for 8000 students in Madurai. He coined the regional Tamil terms for genderqueer people and wrote the first book on Gender-Variants in Tamil. In April 2015, Gopi was invited by Tiruchi Siva to witness the passing of historical Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 at Rajya Sabha upper house of the Parliament of India. For his contributions as a gender minority to Hinduism, he was presented “Young Hindu Award” by writer Aravindan Neelakandan, Joe D Cruz at 6th Hindu Spiritual Services Fair. He petitioned the case of Asian Games medalist Santhi Soundarajan who was stripped off her medal after a gender test to the State and Central Government.

Gopi along with Vishakha Singh launched multiple complaints on behalf of athlete Santhi in National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Human Rights Commission of India also initiated Justice For Santhi Campaign which was instrumental in fetching her a permanent posting as athletic coach in Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority on December 2016.

Gopi through Srishti Madurai helpline rescued several transwomen from forced sex work and begging. He mentors the Transgender India forum India's first 24x7 holistic help and support discussion forum for intersex and transgender people, as well as their families.

Gopi and Transwoman S. Swapna staged the protest in Madurai collectorate on 7 October 2013 demanding reservation and to permit alternate genders to appear for examinations conducted by TNPSC, UPSC, SSC and Bank Exams. Later, Swapna successfully moved the Madras High Court in 2013 seeking permission to write the TNPSC Group II exam as a ‘woman’ candidate.

On 2015 Gopi urged Indian parliament to include intersex people in bill protecting trans rights, He also launched an official complaint to National Human Rights Commission of India to ban the forced sex selective surgeries on intersex infants also to ensure their fundamental constitutional rights in India for which the NHRC issued directions to the Secretary Union Health Ministry Government of India to respond him within 8 weeks.

Shankar was also awarded the Diversity Leadership Award 2016 by the World HRD Congressand featured in ‘India’s 8 LGBT role models under 30’ by Gaysi for voicing intersex rights in India.

• Youth of the Year 2016 - Neeya Naana, Star Vijay TV
• Great People of Great Madurai - Radio Mirchi Award 2016
• Tamil Hindu Award 2014 - Tamil Hindu Team, Chennai
• Star Speaker Award 2013 - PPK Show, Star Vijay TV
• Star Speaker Award 2012 - PPK Show, Star Vijay TV