Noori Saleem: The TransWoman Who Mothered Through HIV By Rhythm Wagholikar

Noori Saleem has earned numerous certificates and awards.

Born as Noor Mohammed in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, Noori grew up amid sorrow losing her brother, sister, and mother by the age of four. Her early years were marked by loss, and her identity became another source of strife. 바카라�I talked and walked like a girl. I didn바카라�t try to바카라�it was just who I was,바카라� she says, her voice calm but unwavering.

Her community reacted with cruelty. Her father, who claimed to prefer daughters, beat her in an attempt to 바카라�correct바카라� her. Her stepmother was equally harsh. At 13, fleeing relentless abuse, Noori escaped to Madras, seeking dignity in a world that offered little understanding.

She returned home only after her father바카라�s death, only to be met with another rejection, plans for her to marry a woman. She left again, this time permanently, journeying to Bombay where survival demanded unthinkable choices. 바카라�It wasn바카라�t a decision바카라�it was desperation,바카라� she says of entering sex work. But amid hardship, she found a flicker of light, a man from the army who offered her love, and with it, the strength to affirm her identity through gender-affirming surgery. 바카라�There were no painkillers. But that pain felt like freedom.바카라�

The relationship, though real, was fleeting. He was transferred to the far off Islands; she stayed behind. Survival again pushed her. It was during this time that she first heard whispers of a new illness! AIDS!

On 22 July 1987, Noori바카라�s was diagnosed with HIV positive, one of India바카라�s second recorded case. She was told she had two years to live. 바카라�I felt utterly alone,바카라� she recalls. But another doctor, Dr. Usha Raghavan, offered her a lifeline. 바카라�Why sit in the dark?바카라� she asked. 바카라�Come into the light.바카라�

That invitation became her compass.

Noori began working at the clinic for a modest salary, stitching blouses by night to survive. Soon, her pain changed into purpose. She joined the Community Action Network, where she learned to promote awareness about HIV, safe sex, and health education. There was no manual, just lived experience and determination.

In 2001, encouraged by a supportive doctor, she founded the South India Positive (SIP) Network providing counselling, healthcare, and livelihoods to those living with HIV. She named the SIP Memorial Trust in honour of three lost friends바카라�Selvi, Indira, and Palani and ensured it would always be led by people living with HIV. 바카라�Only we understand what it means to live this life,바카라� she says.

Two years later, she discovered an abandoned baby near a garbage dump. A note revealed the mother was HIV positive. Noori took the child home. That single act of compassion seeded a larger dream바카라�a home for children orphaned or abandoned due to HIV.

Today, that vision grows. Her shelter is home to over 200 children, all under the watch of the Child Welfare Committee of Tamil Nadu. Her adopted sons: Vinod, Anand, and Malhar were raised through her consistent effort, as she taught herself tailoring to support them. She was their provider, protector, and home.

The walls of her office may hold accolades from World AIDS Day, International Women바카라�s Day, and Transgender Day of Visibility but she points to the children as her true reward. 바카라�They are my reason,바카라� she says.

Her home remains full of life, but her vision now stretches toward permanence. 바카라�We바카라�ve completed 85% of the new shelter,바카라� she shares with hope.

Despite her significant impact, state support remains elusive. Medicines are scarce. Meals are uncertain. 바카라�There바카라�s no government aid,바카라� she states plainly, yet without resentment. She moves forward, sustained by donations and willpower.

Her impact extends beyond the shelter. Noori played a key role in the formation of India바카라�s Transgender Welfare Board, a landmark in gender justice. Once silenced, her voice now contributes to policy.

Yet, beneath her advocacy lies profound humanity. She not only advocates for rights but also provides support.

Over coffee, Rhythm asked her what she hopes for most. 바카라�I want to be remembered by my name,바카라� she says quietly. 바카라�I want to begin and end with dignity.바카라�

Her aspiration is to one day receive a government recognition not for herself, but for the thousands whose responsibilities she has taken on. 바카라�It바카라�s not prestige I seek,바카라� she says. 바카라�I want people to know that a woman like me existed바카라� who turned pain into purpose.바카라�

Noori바카라�s life is dedicated to the unseen, the unheard, the unloved. It is shaped by courage, softened by compassion, and driven by purpose. The transition from Noor Mohammed to Noori reflects a personal and social transformation, through which she has come to represent not only an individual identity but also a broader symbol of a movement, hope and home.

Noori바카라�s experience is not defined by a single narrative. She embodies the lived realities of many, holding multiple stories through her actions, her empathy, and the supportive space she has established바카라�shaped by both personal hardship and compassion.

This in-depth conversation with Noori was conducted by Rhythm Wagholikar, a writer, cultural curator, and changemaker whose work traverses music, literature, and social welfare. Known for creating the world바카라�s first gramophone-shaped book Swarlata, a tribute to Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Rhythm is recognized for his unique storytelling formats and philanthropic endeavors. He authored a Swarmandal-shaped book on Gaan Saraswati Kishori Amonkar and led the Public Relations Council of India YCC as Pune Chairman from 2016바카라�2018. A firm believer in using art and empathy for social good, Rhythm has worked extensively with NGOs supporting orphaned and abandoned girls, he remains dedicated to documenting stories of hope, courage, and transformation like Noori바카라�s that contribute to a broader understanding of the pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable society.