Why do we hate Mayawati?
This is actually a question that I heard on NDTV being asked Prannoy Roy and it had me really thinking.
The little research that I could do on her showed that Mayawati had one major corruption allegation against her in the Taj Corridor case and another even graver but inderect allegation of murder and extortion by BSP for what is called her 'birthday fund'. Does that make an object of such hate in an absolute sense? Yes, definitely yes. However, when we look around at our political class, she is not the only one who has such allegations against her, then why single her out for such vitriolic hate. We seem to forget Lalu Prasad Yadav's Fodder Scam and invite him to IIMA, we forget Narendra Modi's state sponsored communal violence because he is an able administrator. and even think of eulogizing Jyoti Basu whose only contribution to Bengal is considered to be a film fraterntity at Nandan and his son Chandan.
The real answer to that lies in exactly what Mayawati has managed to achieve. She has come from what is arguably the toughest background in India- Dalit woman and risen to become the Chief Minister of the largest state in India. If anything, that makes her the pin up girl of Indian politics far more than Priyanka Gandhi's pretty face.
She has upset all our long held beliefs of social laddering and what we consider to be the rightful place of certain kinds of people. She is definitely not the most honest leader alive (she paid over 26 crores in taxes and has an ongoing case on assets disproportionate to known sources of income) but this mindless almost personal hatred towards her doesn't speak too well about us either.
Think about it and our closely held prejudices.
posted by Abilin Mukherjee at 12:26 AM
4 Comments:
1. incorrect fact #1: jyoti basu's only contribution is not thot to be just nandan n chandan...dats a prejudice on ur part! the metro network...the IT companies that u see well-settled now in WB, the settling of the hills dispute (which u see again raising it's ugly head)...the knowledge fraternity - all has been under him, criticise or eugolise...it's true!
2. incorrect fact #2: UP is not the largest state of india...incorrect! it's rajasthan now as far as i know...
3. just becos u rise from a tough background, doesnt make u a pinup person! do u even know wat all mayawati resorted to to reach this position?! she almost killed kanshi ram herself! if dat's the parallel, even dawood ibrahim shud be a pinup boy for god's sake!
4. hatred against her is not mindless. it's very valid. did u feel the pinch when the govt went ahead with the reservation quotas n stuff this time around? did u feel dat 26% reservation was way too much latitude for ppl who doesnt desrerve it!? well...u hvnt seen enuff of it yet! under mayawati (god be spared under would mean just the state regime), u mite see her full quota regime!
5. sober up man. india's surging ahead. cow belt politics shudnt work nemore! if mayawati can lead a state/ nation. so can sarah palin, +/- beautiful face/ ugly face! but do we want it?
Almost a year gone by since your last post, and you're still talking about prejudices.
I partly agree with your views on Mayawati and the reactions she generates among the so-called elite. But there are two more factors at play.
1. The impression, however untrue it may be, is that she has polarized the electorate of Uttar Pradesh, and anyone who is deemed to be dividing us along caste lines deserves to be seen with apprehension, BJP included
2. In recent times, she has become a more serious candidate nationally, with the formation of the 3rd front and the large majority of total seats that the BSP is contesting. The stated policies of this front also polarize observers, but along political and economic lines. However, I must admit that this development, being recent, doesn't discount from any prejudices that we seem to harbour
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I agree. I guess its important to note that you are what you learn, and if one thing that the Mayawatis of the world have learnt growing up is that nothing succeeds like power, and if you've got the power, you will be considered a wuss if you don't make a proper show of it.
For the last god knows how many decades it was the economic and social elite among politicians who were doing it, so now if a self-made Dalit woman does it, well, that's what she thinks gives her achievements validation.
If we have third generation rich politicians- read Sachin Pilot, Scindia etc- who come across as above these things, that's because they come from a background where power and the show of it had served its purpose many generations ago.
The fact is, its easier to like smooth technocrats who keep in the background and line their purses unobstrusively.
If what Mayawati does gets her hate, then at least we need to see her actions in context.
All this brouhaha about India surging and shining and developing is a canard if we can't sort out deep seated issues of social prejudice and economic justice.
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