Vidya Bharati Alumni, Shubhangi Kulkarni Gangrade, is a Voice for the Deaf and Mute Children

Shubhangi Kulkarni Gangrade, an alumnus of Saraswati Vidhya Shishu Mandir Khatiwala Tank Manikbag Road Indore, finds the expression of her life by transforming deprivations into change. She has grown up watching and learning from her mother, how she helped the deaf and mute children to express themselves to the world.  And all she wanted to do was follow her mother’s footsteps. 

Shubhangi is a teacher and interpreter at CWSN (Children with Special Needs), Dewas. She helps poor learning-disabled children to talk through sign language. After completing her 12th grade from Vidya Bharati School, she completed her B.Com and B.Ed in special education-hearing impairment from M.P. Bhoj University. She has also done Masters in Sociology and a Diploma course in Indian sign language interpretation from AYJNISHD (D) Mumbai. 

Although she started teaching children professionally 4 years ago with Sanjeevni Seva Sangam School for Deaf, she had been assisting her mother with the work since when she was in 11th standard in school. “Many children would come to our home when I was young. I learned it from my mother by watching her teach those children. So, I would also help her often”, Shubhangi recalls. 

Over the years, Shubhangi has worked in several organizations like job fairs, banks, government offices and private organizations as a sign language interpreter. She also offers tuition at home to specially abled children. 

Apart from her mother, she mentions, she will remain ever indebted to her school. “The acharyas and didis have always helped me to follow my dreams. When I was very young my brother was detected with a heart disease. My school waved off my fee understanding that it was difficult for us to maintain my school and my brother’s treatment. I could complete my education because of my teachers and I will remain ever grateful towards them”, Shubhangi mentioned. 

Shubhangi believes that the world can be changed through more and more selfless actions. She wants to impact as many children as possible all her life.

If you are Vidya Bharati alumni and associated with any kind of social work, kindly fill your details at https://www.vidyabharatialumni.org/social-service-survey