Lok Sabha polls candidate watch | A queer IITian joins poll fray in Hingoli: ‘Hometown lacking basic needs’

Falegaonkar, a native of Nanded who identifies himself as queer, has for the last few days been traversing the interior hinterlands in Hingoli district armed with his election symbol, a laptop, speaking about the need for development in the state and the need for everyone to be aware about issues ranging from infrastructure investments to gender equality to right to sexuality.

“The ASER 2023 report which focused on Nanded district showed poor levels of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills among children from the age group of 14-18 years who are not able to read basic English or solve primary level arithmetic problems,”  he said.

Falegaonkar, who, being among few highly-educated individuals from the district, finds it to be his responsibility to work for development of the district.

“Last year, a total of 37 people including 18 infants died in a government-run hospital exposing the flawed health system of the district. Apart from poor administration of basic health and education facilities; locals here struggle for primary needs such as water, electricity,” he said.

“But our previous MP, in his tenure of five years, has spoken for only 25 minutes in total in the Parliament, indicating that our issues are not voiced,” he added.

Apart from struggle in meeting basic requirements, the constituency according to Falegaonkar is grappling with pressing issues such as honour killings, unemployment issues, corruption cases, farmers suicide, iron deficiency, malpractices in exams among others.

Falegaonkar comes from a very modest family background where father runs a small general store in Shirad village of Hadgaon taluka of Nanded district.

His brother has migrated to Pune to work in a restaurant, due to no employment opportunities in their hometown.

“I also left my hometown as a teenager to pursue an engineering degree in Pune. Amid pandemic, when I was forced to remain home, I witnessed various issues grappling my hometown, very closely. It will be a great failure if I am not able to put my education to use for development here,” said Falegaonkar whose M. Tech is in Technology and Development (rural) from Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA) at IIT Bombay.

He held his first-ever big campaign-meet in his village Shirad on Wednesday evening. “Close to 400 individuals showed up for the meeting which is considered a good number in a village. The gram-panchayat too has extended their support to me,” said Falegaonkar adding that he is very thankful to his family for openly embracing him with his queer gender-identity which has given him this confidence.

But, according to Falegaonkar, becuase of his gender-identity that he is not able to obtain complete acceptance among voters from his constituency, in the interiors of Maharashtra.

“People’s eyes light up when they know that I am so highly-educated. Since I am from among them, it gives them hope to see a good future. But I struggle with negative notions around my gender identity among people,” said Falegaonkar who also wants to come in front as LGBTQ champion to ensure gender advocacy.

He has been a key member of Saathi at IIT Bombay, which is an LGBTQ support group on campus.

One of his idols is prominent computer scientist Alan Turing.

“He was openly gay in the early 1950s. He did not fear consequences then,” said Falegaonkar adding that he will continue his research.

But according to him being a people’s representative gives him an opportunity to effectively put this knowledge to use.

Falegaonkar is hopeful of support from people in Lok Sabha elections.

“But I will not stop in case of failure. There are more elections to come: state assembly, Corporation, gram-panchayat,” he said.