In India, there are up to 1.2million transgender people, also known as hijras. Earlier this year, the country's first transgender mayor was elected and less than 12 months ago the Supreme Court granted legal recognition to the community as a third gender.

To an outsider, it might be assumed that these hijras - described as 'men minus maleness' - are able to lead peaceful lives without fear of discrimination, but this could not be further from the truth for some. 

Her parents had high hopes for their first son, but from a young age Saranya was different from other little boys. 

Showing her femininity resulted in severe punishment and by the age of 16 she felt exhausted, suppressed and judged. 

Saranya fled her home in the western city of Pune and took refuge with her new transgender family in Bangalore in the south of the country. 

Hijras live together in houses where a chief or godmother acts as leader. There are no men and they adopt a combination of Hindu and Muslim cultures.  

They refer to each other as mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers and great-grandmothers.

When Saranya was accepted into her transgender family, she underwent her toughest challenge - her physical transformation.

The painful operation - known as Nivran, or rebirth - involves the removal of the penis and testicles and is carried out at home while the patient is awake.

(dailymail.co.uk)