Meet India's first deaf-mute candidate in Madhya Pradesh assembly election

When results for the Madhya Pradesh assembly election are announced on December 11, it may create a national record. A deaf and mute person is contesting assembly election for the first time in the country. If Sudeep Shukla wins, he will become the first deaf and mute person to become an MLA in the country.

Sudeep Shukla was a software engineer but he quit his job to contest the election. He was earning a salary of Rs 1 lakh per month. He has also worked with software giant Infosys at Bengaluru.

However, feeling disturbed with the atrocities on the differently-abled people, especially the deaf and mute, he decided to quit his job and enter the fray to work for this deprived section of the society.

Madhya Pradesh has been a trail-blazer in inclusive politics. It gave to the country its first enunuch MLA in Shabnam Mausi who was elected from the Sohagpur constituency in the state's Shahdol-Anuppur district in 1998-2003.

The country's first eunuch mayor was also from Madhya Pradesh. Kamla Jaan was the mayor of Katni Municipality in 1999. Another Kamla Jaan, also a eunuch, was elected mayor from Sagar in 2009.

Madhya Pradesh also has the privilege of sending country's first blind person to Parliament way back in 1977. Yamuna Prasad Shastri was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rewa twice - in 1977 and 1989 - from Rewa.

While taking part in the Goa Liberation Movement in 1955, he had lost his right eye because of torture by the Portuguese police. He became totally blind in 1975. However, he went on to contest both the Lok Sabha elections despite his complete blindness.

Now, Sudeep Shukla, an MSc in Information and Technology from Alagappa University in Chennai, is on his way to create another history - of becoming the first deaf and mute person to enter an assembly.

A high profile campaigning is underway. Sudeep Shukla is getting the support from prominent citizens. Gyanendra Purohit, who runs an NGO called Anand Service Society for the differently-abled, told indiatoday.in that they are inviting deaf and mute politicians from across the world.

He said the invitees include Raghav Bir Joshi from Nepal who became Asia's first deaf MP, world's first deaf and mute MP Ndeezi Alex of Uganda and New



Zealand's first deaf and mute parliamentarian Mojo Celeste Mathers.

Gyanendra Purohit, who has devoted his life to the welfare of the differently-abled people, has taken up the task as adviser to Sudeep Shukla. "There are 1,000 differently-abled volunteers who will campaign for Sudeep Shukla in Satna," he said adding that they will also organise street shows.

Sudeep Shukla will campaign with the help of interpreters. Gyanendra Purohit too has been interpreting for the special candidate. He has also opened a bank account for the people to donate funds for the election.

Sudeep Shukla's wife, who is also deaf and mute, is also a software engineer in Bengaluru. She has not quit her job in order to help the family monetarily.

Asked why Sudeep Shukla decided to enter electoral politics, Gyanendra Purohit said while working, he saw that deaf and mute women were being sexually exploited. MP's crime rate is quite high. Starvation death is also on the upper side. Besides, there is joblessness, he felt.

"Sudeep felt agitated and asked why these things were happening despite the presence of efficient political parties in the country. He approached the politicians through his deaf and mute friends but they did not support him," he said.

Sudeep Shukla thought that if they had to change politics, he will have to fight a political battle. He demands reservation of seats or nomination of the differently-abled in the assemblies. Therefore, he decided to contest the forthcoming assembly election as an independent candidate.

He is of the conviction that Indian politicians, who are not deaf and mute, have failed to contain poverty, unemployment and starvation deaths. "This country does not need those who can speak and hear but those who can perform. And I believe in action," Gyanendra Purohit said quoting Sudeep.

The deaf and mute candidate further said people are like honeybees who make honey after collecting nectar from flowers. Unfortunately, these politicians enjoy the honey. "Therefore, Sudeep felt a strong urge to fight for the deprived people. Just as dirty water can be purified by using filter, Sudeep said he is stepping into politics like a filter. He wishes to clean this filth in politics and serve the country," said Gyanendra Purohit.