In the Public Eye

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Over the years, I have seen that being transgender is not a confusion or a phase. It is a deep and lived identity, often understood from a young age, yet met with resistance and exclusion.

In India, many transgender persons continue to face ridicule, violence, and rejection, often from their own families and institutions. And yet, they continue to build dignified lives, work, support families, and find their place in society.

The recent amendment to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act is deeply concerning. By limiting recognition to intersex individuals or certain traditional identities, it excludes a large number of transgender persons, especially trans men, who do not fall within these structures.

This risks pushing individuals into rigid systems they may never have chosen, and creates uncertainty around identity, documentation, employment, and access.
India has always held space for gender diversity with nuance and respect. What our traditions have embraced, the law now risks narrowing.
Removing recognition will not change who transgender persons are. It will only make their lives harder, more vulnerable, and more invisible.

When a law refuses to recognise people, it does not erase them. It abandons them.

She was born to blue blood. He is the blue blood of Indian couture. Meet two legacy keepers who combine their inherited eye for design with a deep understanding of aesthetics and a natural love for the arts. Couturier Tarun Tahiliani and Maharani of Baroda, Radhikaraje Gaekwad personify heritage and history through their rich body of work. Besides sharing one common love for the drape tradition of India

Welcome to a special episode of TABLE TALK where conversations go beyond the surface to reveal inspiring life stories and personal journeys.  In this episode, Amrita Raichand sit down with Radhikaraje Gaekwad, the Maharani of Vadodara, for an intimate conversation about royal life, traditions, heritage and her personal journey.  From growing up in a royal family to becoming the Maharani of Baroda, Radhikaraje shares fascinating stories about her childhood, the values she grew up with and the traditions that continue to shape royal families in modern India. She also speaks about heritage preservation, culture and life inside one of India’s most historic royal households; the magnificent Lukshmi Vilas Palace.

Heritage is usually something that feels closed off and out of reach, but Radhikaraje Gaekwad has been on a mission to change that. Through initiatives like Gazra Cafe, the first LGBTQIA-inclusive space in Gujarat and the Lukshmi Vilas Palace Heritage Garba, which is open to all religions and genders, she has created spaces where everybody is celebrated. Her work has demonstrated how tradition can evolve while still retaining its essence.

Radhikaraje Gaekwad & Muzaffar Ali Exclusive: In this special episode of Expresso Live, Radhikaraje Gaekwad and Muzaffar Ali had a thoughtful conversation on legacy, culture, and purpose beyond royal titles and cinematic fame. Moderated by Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor, The Indian Express, the discussion explores how legacy is shaped not by status alone, but by art, values, and vision.

When Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad of Baroda walks into a room, you notice. Not because she’s trying to make a statement, but because everything about her feels calm, assured, and quietly elegant. In a recent Elle Decor shoot at the iconic Laxmi Vilas Palace

Rewild 2026, held at the historic Lukshmi Vilas Palace, showcased a collection that seamlessly blended craft, culture, and conservation.

Restoring her legendary family home as a symbol of pride for her people, this modern-day royal is fashioning a new legacy – one that puts India's rich craft culture into focus once again

Radhikaraje Gaekwad of the erstwhile royal family of Vadodara, who is an advocate for women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community, has turned Gujarat’s sacred dance into a celebration of inclusivity.

The erstwhile Maharani of Baroda, took centre stage at “NAAD – The Sound of the Looms”, a retrospective couture showcase by designer Vaishali Shadangule, wearing a 100-year-old nine-yard Paithani sari from her family’s heirloom collection.

Radhikaraje Gaekwad blends heritage and inclusivity through the Heritage Garba and Urja crafts festival

Maharaja Samarjitsinh and Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad of Baroda embody a rare blend of royal heritage and modern values. Radhikaraje, daughter of an IAS officer and a former journalist, now oversees heritage conservation