If you have the ability to stand out from the crowd, you must be able to face the social aversion, otherwise you will be tramped just because of your abilities. It is very difficult even for a normal person to face these kinds of aversions from the public. Then, just imagine how much a deaf and mute girl can grow in this totally biased society? Sophia M Joe became a super model, a winner in fashion shows, a sports star, and a driver. It is just because of her determination, courage, and definitely the support she got from her parents, Joe Francis and Goretti Joe. She is making headlines with her multitude of talents. But, instead of supporting and encouraging her, the society is trying to pulling her down. This is the story of the survival of a deaf and dump girl. After reading this article, you can decide who really lacks the hearing and vocal capabilities. 

What wrong my children did to the society….?

This is a heartbreaking question from a caring father. Joe Francis (Working at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation) and his wife Goretti are suffering the insults from the society because of their two children, Sophia and Richard. When they got their first child Sophia, they were very happy. But their happiness was short-lived. When their child reached at the age of 10 months, they realized that startling reality. One day, a precision was passing through in front of his house. As a part of it, crackers were busted with loud sound, but the little Sophia remained calm. At this moment onwards, Joe and Goretti were suspicious. Till then the child does not showed any signals of deafness. She was very active, and she behaved like a normal child. But, after the incident in temple, her parents started consulting doctors in different hospitals. At last, they realized that reality. Their child cannot hear…

The endless fight of Joe Francis and Goretti started from there. They had to, and it is still continuing, fight so hardly against the heartless society, authorities and the government. “It is not easy to reach in such a good position. Sophia and her brother Richard suffered a lot to gain these achievements. But, the society does not ready to accept them. Instead of encouragements, they are getting humiliation and insults. What wrong my children did against this society. I got these special kids not because of the curse of God. That is neither my fault nor my children. But, the entire society thinks that we got these children because of our sin. Their looks, body language, conversation, everything create a kind of suffocation in our minds. My children are very sensitive. They become depressed very easily. So whenever my children come with a great victory, the society tries to prick at their soft point. A bad word is enough for diffusing their confidence completely. So, we always protect our kids. Both I and my wife are standing like a fort before them. But I don’t know how long we can do it. I cannot live eternally. After the death of me and my wife, there will not be anybody to look after our kids. We know that they can live independently. They have that much courage. They do not need any sympathy from the society. But, the society should have the mentality to see them as they are. They need support and encouraging words from the public. The society should tell a good word to them when they achieve something great. But, the society is finding happiness by discouraging them by pointing their deficiencies,” Joe told with tears in his eyes.

What were the difficulties Sophia faced during her childhood?

“Our struggles started once she reached the school age. No school was ready to give admission to my daughter. So, we tried to admit her in a special school in Madras. But, they rejected our child because she was 4 years then. That school admits children at the age of 2years. So, my wife, who is a teacher in Bhaven’s school, applied for a long leave. The principal enquired about the reason for the leave. Then she told everything. The School director Mr Govindan (Brother of Metro man Sreedharan), allowed Sophia to join in Bhaven’s. So she studied in that school as a normal child up to 8th class. Later, when she faced difficulties to follow the syllabus of normal school, she was shifted to the National Institute of Open School.”

To recognize the abilities of his daughter, he always observed her keenly. He also asked her teachers to keep an eye on her. As a result, they find out that she can throw things far away. So, she was introduced into shot-put. She became state and national champion in this sport item.

What was the response from people when she started riding bullets and driving car?

Sophia started to go to the school in cycle during the age of 4-5 years. This is a very tender age, so no parent will allow their kids to go to school in a cycle. So, Sophia faced very strong agitation from the parents all students in the school. The agitation was very strong, so the principal was forced to introduce a circular, which restricted students from coming to school in a cycle. But, Joe questioned this circular very strongly. He told to the school management that he has full faith on his daughter and she will continue coming to school in her cycle. He also faced lots of criticism from the parents of other students in that school. But, he was not ready to step back from his decision. “I told them strictly that don’t bother about my children. Due to my strong decision, the school management removed that circular, and allowed students to use cycles at school,” Joe told.

Sophia started travelling by sitting in front of the bullet of her father at a younger age. Then, she started holding the handle of the bullet. Slowly, Joe allowed her to control the handle of the bullet. Little by little, she started riding bullet. Richard started driving the car at first. He then teaches it to his sister, Sophia. Soon, Joe realized that both Sophia and Richard are excellent drivers. They can drive the car and ride a bullet as excellent drivers/riders.


Sophia with brother Richard

“Tomorrow, they have to live alone. During those times, they will not get our support. So, they must be prepared to face all the difficulties in life. So, we are preparing them to carry out all the challenges and responsibilities. But, when she started driving, we realized the next problem. Driving a car without a driving license is not good. So, I tried to get license for my daughter. But I faced the real challenge then,” Joe told.

“Are you a father? Are you going to kill your children”, this was the response from the officials when Joe approached the authorities with his daughter for getting a license for her. The officials told them that it is very difficult for driving for a normal person in this busy traffic. Then how a girl like Sophia drives a car? So, the officials were not ready to allow Sophia to participate in a driving test. Sophia and her parents were not ready to give up. At first, they planned to approach the court. But, it will take time to get a verdict from the court. So, he came across with a verdict from Delhi High Court, which permits partial hearing impaired people to take driving license. The only thing is getting a medical certificate.

For this purpose, Sophia and her father approached many doctors and hospitals, but nobody was ready to give her a medical certificate. No doctors were ready to take the responsibility. At last they approached the Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. From there, they go the required medical certificate. Thus, Sophia appeared for the driving license test and became the first deaf woman in Kerala who gets a driving license for 2-wheeler (with gear) and 4-wheeler.

The goals of Sophia and her brother Richard (he is partially deaf) are very high. But, they are getting negative responses from all corners. Nobody is ready to accept them. Nobody is ready to recognize their skills and victories. The society itself has a negative mentality. The society pretends that it does not hear or see anything. Some people even ask them directly, ‘Are you deaf?’ This question itself makes deep wounds in the hearts of these children. Normal children with fewer abilities get lots of appreciation. But, Sophia and Richard are earning greater achievements. When they are not getting proper appreciation from others, they fall in deep depression.

When Sophia ride bullet, some people approach her behind without making noise and try to pull her down. Some others put their vehicles in front of hers. As she cannot speak, how can she ask them to give space for her vehicle? Once she was coming back from gym. It was 10.30 pm. One guy approached her and held on her neck so tightly. But, Sophia kicked the guy so strongly. As a result, he fell down from the bike and she escaped herself from his clutches.



Article appeared in Dainik Bhaskar on 6th November, 2016

The normal children and their parents simply neglect the achievements of Sophia. She represented India in Miss World Deaf and Dumb contest (Prague, Czech Republic). She was the first runner up in Miss Deaf India 2014, Delhi. She is also a talented glass painter and jewellery designer. She acted in a movie named ‘Best Wishes’. She was the 8 time state champion and 3 time national champion in shot put and discus throw.


Sophia and Richard achieve success just because of the support of their parents. In fact, the home becomes the first jail for these types of special children. Parents do not allow these children to come out from their room and face people outside. Even the teachers in special schools consider them as a burden. “Parents think that these types of children are a curse. So these children are getting step-motherly behavior even from their parents. Then, how the society will behave to them in a better way?” Joe asked.


“We are also human beings. We also have feelings. We also have a heart too. Your cold minded attitude, negative body language, discouraging words, everything can land us in great sorrows. It is very hard for us to come out from this abysmal situation. I am taking lots of strain to achieve these successes. I suffered a lot, I took lots of pain. I had to avoid lots of things in my life. I gained all these achievements in such a way. If you are not ready to appreciate me, I do not bother. I do not need sympathy from the society. But, please, please leave me without attacking so cruelly,” this is the words of this multifaceted achiever, Sophia M Joe.

India, especially Kerala, is behaving so badly to these types of special kids. Sophia and Richard got enough bitter experience from this country. So, now, they want to go abroad for higher studies. They are seeking a place that accepts their abilities and consider them as a human being, not a subhuman.


Sophia is a very talented model and she succeeded in many beauty contests. But, due to the dearth of money, she could not participate in many beauty contests in 2016. She wanted to participate in Miss International Beauty Contest, which will be held in Thailand in November this year. But, she couldn’t because of the lack of money. Now, she is planning to participate in a few beauty contests in 2017. But, she is not sure whether she can participate in it or not. The family accuses that they are not getting any support from the state government. Sophia does not get even an encouraging word from the government. So, they don’t believe that the Kerala government will support them financially. But still, Sophia is doing strict practices for participating in International Beauty competitions. They expect that they will surely get support from the public.