From Brutality to the Upper House: Sadanandan Master’s Extraordinary Journey of Resilience
New Delhi, February 2, 2026 — In a dramatic and emotionally charged moment in Parliament today, C. Sadanandan Master, a nominated Member of the Rajya Sabha, placed his prosthetic legs on the table of the Upper House and recounted the brutal political attack that cost him both limbs more than three decades ago. His gesture, during the Motion of Thanks debate on the President’s Address, underscored a life marked by suffering, courage and an unlikely ascension to India’s legislative arena.
At age 30 in January 1994, in his home district of Kannur, Kerala, Sadanandan was ambushed by a group of assailants allegedly linked to political rivals. They seized him from behind, overpowered him and chopped off both his legs below the knees with sharp weapons during a period of intense local factional violence. The mutilation was so severe that his amputated limbs were left on the roadside, deliberately crushed to prevent surgical reattachment.
Sadanandan’s survival was no small feat. Hospitalized for months, he endured “unimaginable pain” and the specter of permanent disability before learning to walk again with robust prosthetic limbs. Supported by his family and community, he returned to social and public life, resuming his teaching career and becoming active in public service despite his physical limitations.
His resilience eventually propelled him into formal politics. After years of grassroots engagement and two unsuccessful bids for the Kerala Legislative Assembly, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in July 2025 by President Droupadi Murmu—a move seen by supporters as recognition of his service and symbolic of resistance against political violence.
Today in Parliament, Sadanandan said he placed his artificial legs on the table to show “before the nation and the people what is democracy,” directly linking his personal tragedy to broader debates about political tolerance and accountability. His remarks elicited a heated exchange with members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who objected to the display of prosthetic limbs inside the House, prompting a point of order.
“The same forces that now speak loudly about democratic values were those who attacked me 31 years ago,” Sadanandan said, seated due to his disability. He urged lawmakers to transcend partisan divisions and strive for unity on issues of national interest, even as the opposition continued to vocally protest.
Political analysts note his story resonates beyond India’s borders as an example of personal tenacity transforming into a platform for policy engagement and national representation. Sadanandan’s journey—marked by violence, recovery and eventual legislative authority—serves as a potent narrative on the intersections of political conflict, human rights and democratic participation.
