Gyanendra Purohit, an Indian advocate and activist, is widely recognized as the co-founder of Anand Service Society, an organization committed to assisting deaf and impaired individuals in India.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born on July 25th in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, he carries the zodiac sign of Leo. Gyanendra’s father, Babulal Purohit, played a significant role in his life. Tragically, Gyanendra’s brother, Anand, who was deaf and speech impaired, lost his life in a train accident in 1997. This event prompted Gyanendra to redirect his aspirations and devote himself to the cause of the disabled. On May 18th, 2001, he married Monica Sharma Purohit, a special educationist, activist, and philanthropist. Together, they have two sons named Sarthak Purohit and Chinmay Purohit.
EDUCATION
Gyanendra pursued a master’s degree in social work, LLB, and LLM from the esteemed Indore School of Social Work, affiliated with Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in Indore, during the years 1997-1999. Before delving into advocacy, he was also pursuing a career in chartered accountancy.
CAREER
Motivated by his personal experience, Gyanendra set aside his ambition to become a chartered accountant and instead focused on advocating for the rights and well-being of the disabled, particularly those who are deaf and speech impaired. In 1997, he, along with his wife Monica Purohit, founded Anand Service Society. This organization is dedicated to facilitating the education, training, and employment assistance of deaf and speech impaired children. Anand Service Society operates residential centers in Indore as well as in tribal and rural areas of Madhya Pradesh, including Dhar and Alirajpur, which are among the most illiterate districts in India.
Through his organization, Gyanendra has been a fervent advocate for various causes. He has championed the inclusion of deaf children in mainstream schools, called for state government reservations for deaf and speech impaired individuals in teaching positions, sought reservation quotas for deaf people in government ITI colleges, and campaigned for mandatory BERA testing in government jobs, among other initiatives. His dedication and efforts have contributed significantly to improving the lives of deaf and impaired individuals in India.
