Sudeep Shukla, a software engineer by profession is all set to contest the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections as an independent candidate. Sudeep Shukla is a differently abled person and if he happens to win, he will become the first deaf and mute person to become an MLA in the country.
Although Shukla had a well-earning job which paid him a handsome amount of Rs 1 lakh per month, he felt a need to do something about the atrocities on the differently-abled people, especially the deaf and mute. Sudeep Shukla who is an MSc in Information and Technology from Alagappa University in Chennai is getting the support from Gyanendra Purohit, who runs an NGO called Anand Service Society for the differently-abled. According to India Today Purohit said that they are inviting deaf and mute politicians from across the world.
He told the invitees include Asia’s first deaf MP from Nepal, Raghav Bir Joshi , 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, is also acting as an advisor to Shukla. Purohit has devoted his life to the welfare of the differently-abled people and now he is dedicated to help Sandeep in hi endeavor. Purohit said that for campaigning they have appointed around 1,000 differently-abled volunteers who will campaign for Sudeep Shukla in Satna and will also organise street shows.
Gyanendra Purohit is also helping Shukla as an interpretor and has also opened a bank account for the people to donate funds for the election. Asked why Sudeep Shukla decided to enter electoral politics, Gyanendra Purohit told that while working he saw that deaf and mute women were being sexually exploited. MP’s crime rate is quite high. There is increased malnutrition and unemployment rate is also high. He was disappointed as to why there are so many issues despite being powerful political parties forming the government. So he thought that if they had to change politics, he will have to fight a political battle.
His demands include reservation of seats or nomination of the differently-abled in the assemblies. He strongly believes that Indian politicians, who are not deaf and mute, have failed to curb 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.
Sudeep Shukla’s wife, who works as a software engineer in Bengaluru is also deaf and mute. As of now, she is supporting the family financially.
Madhya Pradesh has been one state which has proved to be quite unconventional in providing politicians. The first enunuch MLA Shabnam Mausi was elected from the Sohagpur constituency in the state’s Shahdol-Anuppur district in 1998-2003. The country’s first eunuch mayor Kamla Jaan was also from Madhya Pradesh. The country’s first blind person to become an MP was also from this state itself. Yamuna Prasad Shastri was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rewa twice – in 1977 and 1989 – from Rewa.
with inputs from India Today