Who: Sundeep Rao
Education: BA in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Wales.
Sundeep Rao is a stand-up comedian, writer, producer, and voice-over artist. Sundeep is a funny guy – he sees tries to see the silver lining and humour in every situation. Even when times are tough, Sundeep is always ready to laugh and help others do the same. It’s an admirable quality – especially when you realise that Sundeep is visually impaired.
When he was 9 years old, he woke up one morning and couldn’t see. The doctors quickly diagnosed him with Juvenile Macular Degeneration. The disease took away his central vision but left him with his peripheral vision. In his words, “I cannot see straight, but can see from the sides.”
Once Sundeep realised that his disability was a permanent one, he decided not to let it stop him from living his life to the fullest. He says that during his childhood he climbed trees, played games and ate tons of chocolate – just like any other kid.
When he grew older, he began to see that society didn’t treat disabled persons the same way as ‘normal’ people. His fascination with people and communities led him to study political science and sociology in college. It allowed him to explore society’s attitudes and see how they applied to his life.
Sundeep brings his unique sense of humour and experiences to his writing and performances. As a comedian, Sundeep is able to reach people in an all new way. He is able to talk freely about his condition, the attitudes he faces, and the way he ‘sees’ the world.
Sundeep is convinced that with determination, anything is possible. He says that sympathy is the last thing that persons with disability need. Instead of hoping for more, he says that people need to start doing and that we need “respectable citizens who will rather stand in a queue instead of pushing to get through”.
Long Story Short
- Sundeep Rao is a visually impaired comedian.
- Sundeep uses his platform as a comedian to create awareness about the kind of challenges that disabled persons experience.
- He talks freely about his disability and feels like comedy helps him reach people in a new way.
- He says that people need to start caring instead of sympathising.
- Sundeep believes that we need to create a culture of people queuing for opportunities rather than pushing others aside.