| Office | Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
|
|---|---|
| Term start | 21 July 2025
|
| Predecessor | Ram Shakal
|
| Constituency | Nominated (Social work)
|
| Born | 1964-05-01 (age 62) [1][2] |
| Born | Perinchery, Mattannur, Kannur, Kerala, India
|
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Vanitharani T. |
| Children | Yamuna Bharati
|
| Occupation | Teacher, Social worker, Writer, Poet,
|
C. Sadanandan Master (born May 1, 1964) an Indian school teacher and social worker turned politician who is serving as a Nominated Member of Rajya Sabha (2025) and Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party Kerala unit.[3][4][5] He is the vice-president of the National Teachers Union (NTU) of Kerala and the editor of its publication, Deshiya Adhyapaka Vartha. [6]
In 1994, at age 30, he was attacked by the members of CPI (M) party and both his legs were hacked below the knees. He unsuccessfully contested the 2016 and 2021 assembly elections from the Kuthuparamba Assembly constituency, before being nominated by the President of India to the Rajya Sabha in 2025. [7][8][9][10]
Early life and education
Master was born in the village Perinchery near Mattannur, in a Communist-supporting family. His father was Kunhiraman Nambiar, and his mother was Devi Amma. [11][2] He completed his schooling at Sivapuram Higher Secondary School, Mattannur. Subsequently, he did his pre-degree course at Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College, Mattanur (Kannur University), followed by graduation from St. Mary's College, Kuthuparamba. He was active as a member of the CPM during his college days, but later left it due to ideological differences. He gained a B.Com degree from Gauhati University, Assam and a B.Ed from Calicut University.[6] In 1984, he joined the RSS through its students’ wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and later worked as the RSS Boudhik Pramukh in Ernakulam.[11][1]
Career
He started his career as a primary school teacher at Kuzhikkal LP School in Kannur. He has held several key positions as president of the National Teachers' Union, Deputy Vice President of BJP in Kerala, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram as a member, and worked in editorial board of BJP's Kerala mouthpiece, Janmabhoomi, RSS Boudhik Pramukh for Kannur.[12] Template:Quote box
Over the next decade, he grew in the RSS, and by 1994, at age 30, he was serving as the RSS Sahkaryavah in Kannur district. On January 25, 1994, around 8.30 pm, he got down from a bus at Uruvachal near Mattannur, that is when a gang of CPI (M) members allegedly attacked him, pinned him to the ground and hacked both his legs below the knee. They also mutilated the legs so that he couldn't be rejoined surgically. However, after a few months in the hospital, he returned to his school, using prosthetic legs to walk. [11][1][13]
In the coming years, he continued his teaching career, remained active in Sangh Parivar politics and was a major opponent of political violence in Kerala politics.[6] In the process, he also gained a popular epithet as 'Master' or 'Maashay. [3] In 1999, he joined as a Social Science teacher at the Sree Durga Vilasam Higher Secondary School in Peramangalam, Thrissur.[6]
In 2020, he retired as a teacher from a school in Peramangalam village, Thrissur, and became a part of the intellectual wing of the RSS, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram. [11] In 2025, he appointed one of the vice-presidents of the BJP's Kerala Unit. [11]
Personal life
He is married to Vanitha Rani, also a teacher. The couple have a daughter, Yamuna Bharati, who is a B.Tech. student.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kerala BJP veteran who lost both legs in Kannur political violence, C Sadanandan Master nominated to Rajya Sabha(13 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Members Bio, Centre, National Informatics. Rajya Sabha, Digital Sansad(2022-11-14). Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 From having legs hacked off to getting Rajya Sabha foothold: A Master's journey of grit(14 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ PM Modi Called Me, Said Kerala Matters: C Sadanandan Master On Rajya Sabha Nomination(13 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ CPI(M) cadres hacked his legs off in '94, now Sadanandan Master is back as a BJP candidate(24 March 2016). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Who is C Sadanandan Master? Kerala teacher, political violence survivor nominated to Rajya Sabha(13 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ President nominates Kerala BJP veteran C. Sadanandan to the Rajya Sabha(13 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ 'Proud moment': Sadanandan Master pledges to work for 'Viksit Kerala' after Rajya Sabha nomination(13 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ President Murmu nominates four to Rajya Sabha, including former Foreign Secretary Shringla, 26/11 prosecutor Nikam(13 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ Kerala BJP Nominee: Ex-Communist Sadanandan Master Joins Rajya Sabha(13 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Kerala BJP veteran who lost both legs in Kannur political violence, C Sadanandan Master nominated to Rajya Sabha, Philip, Shaju. The Indian Express(13 July 2025). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ↑ Kerala BJP leader, who lost both his legs in 'CPM' attack, nominated to RS(13 July 2025). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ Sadanandan Master places his artificial limbs on table in Rajya Sabha, triggering heated exchange with CPI-M, Sultan, Parvez. The New Indian Express(2026-02-02). Retrieved 2026-02-04.