BENGALURU:CN Vijayaraj was once rich with a bungalow and three cars. He now lives in a rented apartment after having spent his life savings on conducting marriages for 4,350 couples with hearing impairment.
He has the biggest family in the world with 4,350 daughters and sons-in-laws and 1,350 grandchildren, says the 66-year-old. “My 26-year-old son gets jealous when so many people call me appa (dad) or taata (granddad),” Vijayaraj giggles.
He managed to fund his venture, Swayamwaraa Trust for six years on his money to conduct these marriages. He says, “I was into furniture business. I was rich. I had three cars and 35 two-wheelers for my sales representatives. I lived in a huge bungalow. I used to give 4gm of gold mangalsutra to every couple. Now, I am broke. I live in a rented apartment with my wife and son. My wife supports me a lot.”
It all started at an International Women’s Day celebrations organised by Karnataka Association for the Hearing Impaired, where Vijayaraj met those with hearing impairment.
He recalls, “I was invited as a guest for the celebrations. It is not easy to identify the hearing-impaired people. I was there for an hour observing them and realised they communicate only through their hands and facial expressions. I wanted to do something for them. When I enquired what they expected, a 46-year-old hearing impaired woman told me that she’s not married and unable to find a job as well.”
Vijayaraj says only if a hearing-impaired girl is rich and beautiful, a normal person would marry, but that again doesn’t last for more than two years.
The parents also are reluctant to learn the sign language to communicate with their hearing-impaired children. He felt communication is very important in any marriage. “I asked her if she would marry a hearing-impaired person and she said, yes.” Hence, he started Swayamwaraa Trust in 2000 to get the hearing impaired people married. He organises a three-day event annually where the hearing impaired people are gathered along with their families. “The women speak to men and if both the parties are fine, we get them married. Our trust provides them free food, dresses and mangalsutra.” He sends letters and circulars to all the district director offices informing about the Swayamvara and also sponsors their travel if they need. The funds for the matrimony are raised through donations now.
He has started an educational institute, Swayamwaraa Trust Hearing Impaired PU College for the needy. He also organises cultural programmes for the students every year where they participate in dance, drama, essay, art and painting competitions. The Swayamvara 2016 will be held on January 5, 6 at BBMP Corporation Choultry, Jogupalya, Halasuru. The registrations would begin on January 5 at 8 am and the selection of a match would follow at 10 am.