Kochi, Kerala — In a state known for its progressive values, Thripthi Shetty stands as a living testament to resilience, innovation, and social change. Hailing from the coastal town of Manjeshwar in Kasaragod and assigned male at birth, Thripthi’s journey from Kiran to Kerala’s first openly transgender entrepreneur is nothing short of extraordinary.
The Journey of Selfhood
Born on November 2, 1986, Thripthi endured early hardship, including the tragic loss of both parents and a lifelong battle for identity in a society unprepared to understand her truth. By 2004, she set out alone to Chennai and Mumbai—taking on menial jobs by day and saving for her gender-affirmation surgery by night.
Emerging from this transformative phase, she redefined herself—not just in body and spirit, but as a force of fearless innovation and compassion.
Breaking Boundaries in Employment
Thripthi made history as Kerala’s first openly transgender employee, symbolizing a bold step toward workplace inclusion. She later joined the Kudumbashree Mission’s special neighborhood group in Kochi East, which became the foundation for her business journey.
Persistent and undeterred, Thripthi secured a ₹1 lakh loan from SBI to launch her first venture—Thripthi Handicrafts—turning recycled materials and cultural motifs into wearable art.
Crafting Success: Thripthi Handicrafts
Under the mentorship of social reformer Dr. Annie, she mastered jewellery-making using black metal, silk thread, upcycled glass bottles, and ethnic stones. Her first exhibition at Kochi’s Marine Drive became a sensation—drawing crowds, media, and eventually, loyal customers.
Her business quickly became known for blending environmental sustainability with cultural authenticity.
Digitizing Dreams
In 2018, Thripthi achieved another first—becoming the first transgender artisan registered with the Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala and receiving an official Artisan ID from the Ministry of Textiles.
Later that year, she broke yet another ceiling by becoming the first transgender applicant to secure a Mudra loan, using it to expand her venture into digital platforms. By 2019, she launched the “Thripthi Handicrafts” mobile app, offering customers handcrafted jewellery, sarees, DIY kits—and more. Notably, ₹10 from each purchase goes toward transgender welfare initiatives.
Thripthi Aquatics: From Handicrafts to Aquaculture
Demonstrating her entrepreneurial range, Thripthi also founded Thripthi Aquatics, a sustainable ornamental fish breeding initiative supported by CMFRI’s Science Technology Innovation Hub. Despite pandemic-related disruptions, she rebuilt the business with tenacity, earning recognition from CMFRI for her innovation in fisheries.
On International Women’s Day 2023, she was honored by CMFRI as a role model for inclusive enterprise and gender equity.
A Life of Activism and Partnership
Thripthi is married to Hrithik M, a trans man, journalist, and fellow fish breeder—together forming Kerala’s first transgender entrepreneur couple. The couple made headlines by pledging their bodies for medical research, prompting health institutions to formally acknowledge transgender donors.
She remains a vocal advocate for trans rights—pushing for greater access to voter IDs, welfare schemes, and meaningful employment for Kerala’s estimated 25,000 transgender individuals, many of whom remain unseen in official statistics.
Vision for the Future
Thripthi envisions opening a flagship handicraft emporium in a tourist hub—a creative sanctuary led by transgender artisans. She continues to seek government support for subsidized retail space and marketing assistance to scale this dream into a transformative community model.
Her belief is simple yet powerful: “Support one transgender entrepreneur, and you unlock the path for thousands more.”
At a Glance: Thripthi Shetty
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 2, 1986 |
| Hometown | Manjeshwar, Kasaragod, Kerala |
| Current Base | Kochi (Aluva/Kochi East) |
| Ventures | Thripthi Handicrafts, Thripthi Aquatics |
| Platforms | Mobile App, Website (thripthi.in) |
| Achievements | Mudra Loan, Artisan ID, CMFRI Honor |
| Personal Life | Married to Hrithik M |
| Mission | Empower transgender lives through craft, finance & reform |
From survival to success, from silence to influence—Thripthi Shetty is not just rewriting her story, she’s rewriting the narrative of inclusion in India.
