A cup of hope: How Priya Apa became a beacon of resilience at TSC

Priya Khan, a tea vendor by profession, is a well-known figure at Dhaka University. 

The university students affectionately call her Priya Apa.

Her tea stall, located at the corner of the university's TSC (Teacher-Student Centre), is not just a place for refreshments but also a symbol of her efforts to become self-reliant.

Before opening the stall, Priya, a third-gender person, spent many years collecting tolls from people around Shahbagh and Dhaka University areas, a livelihood practice followed by many hijra community members. 

Once she began to move towards self-sufficiency, Priya decided it was time for a change. 

Instead of asking for help, she set up a tea stall serving familiar faces. 

Nowadays, Priya's stall is usually abuzz with customers, whom she offers a variety of teas, including lemon tea, malta tea, masala tea, tamarind tea, and even coffee tea. 

She also sells biscuits, cake, bread, and bananas. 

Open from 7am to 10pm daily, Priya can be seen busily chatting away with her clients. 

However, Priya's journey to independence was not an easy one. 

Although she was born in Savar, she grew up in Tangail. 

After her family learned about her gender identity, they accepted her, but societal pressure forced her to leave home. 

She eventually came to Dhaka with her community leader (guru mother of the hijra community).

In Dhaka, she initially performed dance and music in Old Dhaka but later shifted to collecting money in Shahbagh as she grew older. 

Reflecting on her life, she said, "I am not new to Dhaka University. For the past 24 years, I have been collecting money from the students here. I have never harassed or annoyed anyone. This campus is like home to me."

She added, "My hijra team collects money around Shahbagh, but you can ask the police – there has never been any complaint against us. Since 2016, I've been trying to become self-reliant. I didn't want to keep begging, so with the help of a few people, I started this tea stall. I am forever indebted to the university and the people here."

Priya is not just trying to become self-sufficient on her own; she has also created employment for another third-gender person named Nodi, who used to collect money on campus. Additionally, she has a staff member named Sakib.

While talking to Priya, a group of students arrived at her stall. 

One of them said, "Priya Apa, can you make us some tea yourself?" 

It was a request one might make to an older sister. Priya smiled, asked them to sit, and started preparing tea.

Adnan Turjo, a fourth-year student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, shared his joy in being an up close witness of Priya's journey. 

"Priya Apa is a familiar face. When I first came to campus, I met her at TSC. She used to ask for money and came to me a few times. Now, we all enjoy tea made by her. 

"It's amazing to witness her journey. The Bangladesh we fought for is one where people of all gender identities live with dignity and find their own livelihoods. That's the dream," he added.

Priya also played a significant role during the July uprising. 

From 16 to 25 July, under her leadership, a group of hijra volunteers assisted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, providing care to the injured and helping transport the bodies of the deceased. 

Her efforts included organising blood donations from 36 hijras and collecting 730 bags of blood. 

Despite facing several challenges, Priya and her team did not back down. They also contributed Tk3 lakh for the treatment of the injured.

While many heroes of the July revolution have come into the spotlight, people like Priya, who worked in the background, have remained largely unrecognised. 

Priya doesn't seek any credit; all she wants is for third-gender individuals to be given opportunities to become self-reliant like her.

Priya dreams of a Bangladesh where third-gender people are treated with respect, have equal opportunities, and no longer need to ask for charity. 

She envisions a society where every third-gender individual is self-sufficient.

Following the student-led revolution on 5 August, which led to a shift in the country's leadership, the Dhaka University administration announced a plan to clear the campus of outsiders. 

As part of this initiative, there were preparations to evict tea stalls around TSC. 

However, students protested, and in response, the administration decided to register those who had stalls since before 2008, including Priya Khan, allowing her to continue her business undeterred.