God's Own Constituency (7)

                                                Issues in Varanasi election

    A modern saptarishi and a river's thousand names

Varanasi.

The Ganga has one thousand names ( sahasranama) all meaning purity and cleanliness but unlike the past it enters the third millennium with only one name -- pollution.

Daily, at the crack of dawn, one man takes a dip in the river reciting Gangasahasranam knowing fully well that the polluted water could be injurious to health. It only strengthens his resolve to work for making the river pollution free. He is Professor Veer Bhadra Misra, who has been tirelessly fighting to restore Ganga to its pristine purity.

He has been recently selected by the international news magazine Time as one of the ''Seven Heroes of Planet.''

He says ''I owe it all to mother Ganga.'' Prof Misra, who comes from the priestly class and is the mahant of the famous Sankatmochan temple in Varanasi, is a scientist by temper. He is a civil engineering professor at the Banaras Hindu University.

He has been named as one of the modern saptarishi (seven adepts) for his efforts to save the planet from environmental degradation.

It is perhaps for the first time that an international media organisation has prepared a list of top environmental activists on a global basis. ''In honouring me, they reminded the world community that cleaning of the Ganga should be a global concern. Ganga will inspire us to preserve all the fresh water bodies the world over'', Prof Misra said.

He had started his campaign to check the growing pollution in the river nearly two decades ago, much before environmental concerns became 'fashionable' among the elite. His efforts finally attracted the attention of the central government to Ganga's plight. The then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi launched the ambitious Ganga Action Plan in 1986.

Sitting in the living room of his house just a few yards from the river, Prof Mishra is busy attending telephone calls congratulating him for the award.

His only regret is that the first phase of the Ganga Action Plan has not achieved significant success. ''The only consolation is that the pollution has not increased from pre-plan levels,'' he says.

The professor had received the ''Global-500 roll of honour'' instituted by the United Nations Environment Agency at the Earth Summit at Rio de Janerio in 1992. He is also a member of an expert committee constituted by the central government to evaluate the work and progress of the Ganga Action Plan and for suggesting measures for improvement.

Prof Misra says that the pollution problem of the Ganga is vastly different from that of the rivers of developed countries where chemical pollution is the major challenge. Fortunately, pollution in the Ganga is mainly biological.

''If the developed countries can overcome the problem of chemical pollution in their rivers, we, in India, can certainly check biological pollution which is largely caused by municipal sewage and other human activities,'' he adds.

Prof Misra says much depends on the success of the Ganga Action Plan. ''If we succeed in making the Ganga pollution free, then this experience can be extended to the other rivers too.''

''We should fix a modest and feasible goal. As the anti-pollution measures require huge resources, we should not think of making the river pollution free in all its thousands of miles course. We should concentrate our efforts on special stretches where people gather in large numbers for bathing and other cultural or religious activities,'' he added.

He named six such stretches along the river-500 metre upstream and Downstream: Gangotri, Lakshman Jhula (Rishikesh) to Kankhal (Hardwar), Shukratal to Garhmukteshwar, Brahmavarta to Siddhanath (Kanpur), Shivkuti to Ranhaiyaghat (Allahabad) and Ramnagar to Adikeshavghat (Varanasi).

''These stretches, if polluted, would affect the health of a much larger number of people who gather there. Since these places are closely linked to the traditional beliefs of our countrymen, they should be preserved as symbols of sentiment and models for deification'', he adds.

The expert committee had expressed the view that technology adopted in the first phase of the Ganga Action Plan was not an ideal one. ''Over reliance on pumping of sewage should have been avoided and technical preference should be given to carriage of sewage by the force of gravity to the maximum extent possible,'' it had suggested.

Prof Misra feels that the oxidation technology pond with suitable retention time is capable of reducing various types of pollution.

( Mahantji passed away in 2013)

               God's Own Constituency (6)

                        Bhadohi celebrates Bandit Queen's Win

                        Varanasi May 12, 1996. From Chambal ravines to the Parliament Phoolan Devi has traversed an eventful road all in the  glare of high media blitz. By electing the former dacoit as their representative , electorate of Bhadohi- Mirzapur has given Phoolan the respectability and acceptability she craved for to shed off her past.

                             The towns and villages of Bhadohi-Mirzapur , spread on the either sides of Ganga, witnessed scene of prolonged festivity after Phoolan's win as people celebrated the march of "our woman in Parliament".

                            Born on July 15,1957 (?), in a small village of Mallah (boatman) community in Jalaun district, Phoolan who was once sought after by police, may have never dreamt that one day she will be in amid the august gathering in the Parliament. For that matter, she had seldom hoped that she would ever be able to come out of Chambal-Yamuna ravines or escape the bullets of rival dacoit gangs or the police.

                            Phoolan, the second daughter of Devi Deen and Bhola Devi in a family of four sisters and one brother, was married at an early age to a person many year older than her. This mismatched marriage brought an unending trauma to her- continuous displacement and exploitation, physical and mental- that finally sent Phoolan to Chambal-Yamuna ravines.

                            Phoolan was a major challenge for the police forces of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and used to strike ruthlessly on her rival gangs. According to police records on February 14, 1981, her gang was responsible for the murder of more than 15 people at Behmai village in Kanpur dehat district, apparently in a retaliation of humiliation heaped on her by village toughs.

                           Increasing police pressure and serious threat from rival gangs forced her to surrender before the then Chief Minister Arjun Singh on February 12, 1983. Phoolan placed her rifle before the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and bade farewell to arms. 

                           She spent 11 years in various jails, urging the government to fulfill her 27 demands which according to her were accepted by the government to make her surrender. Though until 1994 her appeal for release from jail went in vain, during this period she became one of the most sought after themes for writers and film makers.

                           Many books, including a biography of Phoolan by French author Irene Frain, were published and a film Bandit Queen made waves around the world. Phoolan, however, was unhappy over her depiction in the film which according to her was outrageous. 

                           Chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav withdrew all cases against Phoolan in 1994 paving way for her release. Ummed Singh, a social worker fro Delhi, came in contact with Phoolan, when she was still in Tihar jail and married her once she was out of jail. Taking a few lessons from her understanding of social conditions of the villages of Bundelkhand region, she organised the "Eklavya Sena"( named after the deserted pupil of Acharya Dronna of Mahabharat). The Sena has been engaged in highlighting the problems of the weaker sections.

                           Mulayam Singh Yadav selected Phoolan as the candidate fro Bhadohi-Mirzapur for 1996 elections with an eye on Mallah (boatmen) votes which are sizable in the gangetic belt. The strategy worked ensuring Phoolan's victory.

                           During electioneering , there were moment of caste tension in the constituency, especially when effort were made to bring a "Vidhwa Rath"(widow carriage), from Bahmai to Mirzapur. The Rath was stopped and Phoolan herself explained that she had no enmity with any caste.

                           Popularly known as "mullah ki beti" (daughter of a boatman) Phoolan has brought a sense of pride for the whole community.  Her expertise in swimming effortlessly enabled her to survive the bullets of police and rival gangs on many occasions.She is confident that now in the political stream too she will have a smooth sail. 

                            Fast Forward 

          March-April 1998: Phoolan was defeated in a Mid-Term poll

          October-   1999:  Phoolan reelected in a Mid term poll

          July 25-    2001: Phoolan was assassinated at her official residence in 

                             New Delhi. Nation mourned her death.

                     

                     

                            God's Own Constituency (5)

                                               Bandit Queen Begins Political journey

                                              Varanasi April 14 , 1996. She bade farewell to arms 13 years ago and now she has to explain in people's court why, in the first place, took up arms.

                                                Phoolan Devi yesterday's terror of Chambal ravines and today"s candidate from Mirzapur-Bhadohi constituency, is putting her case before the electorates in all humility with folded hands.

                                                Mirzapur, hemmed between two Kaval town Allahabad and Varanasi- is known globally for its thriving carpet industry which has recently been stigmatised by child labour. Phoolan is being greeted by curious crowds. The instant response of the village women towards Phoolan, moving around with heavy security cordon, is : She does not look like a dacoit, she is very much like us.

                                              However, she is finding that mass politics is as rough and tough as life in Chambal ravines. She has to contend with the sitting Bharatiya janata Party MP Virendra Singh, a former national level wrestler from Banaras hindu University , who is sparing no effort to put his rivals on the mat.

                                              The former dacoit and the pehalvan quite often engage in a verbal duel using rustic and at times, offensive language much to the amusement of the villagers and media persons.

                                             A total 61 candidates are in the fray in this constituency. But a triangular contest is emerging involving Phoolan, Virendra Singh and Ram Kishore Bind, Bahujan Samaj Party candidate and as former minister.Hiramani Singh(Congress) and Mata Prasad Dubey (Congress Tiwari) are among other contestants, Virendra Singh had won this seat in 1991 defeating veteran trade union leader and Janata Dal nominee Yusuf Beg by a margin of 20,000 votes.

                                            Phoolan started her high profile campaign by offering prayers to Vindhyavasini, the presiding deity at the famous Shakti Peetha Vindhyachal near her. She pleads in small and big gathering in the villages, " I am not a bon dacoit. We were forced to go to Chambal ravines"

                                            " I also did many good things. Suddenly she changes over to high pitch, I had looted only those who had robbed the poor villagers."

                                           Virendra Singh uses Phoolan's past to turn voters in his favour. " I will not let Mirzapur Bhadohi become another Chambal. Do you want to be represented in the parliament by a Behmai killer, he says with reference to the massacre Phoolan's gang had allegedly carried out in Behmai village in Uttar Pradesh.

                                           BSP candidate Ram Kishore Bind also challenges the claim of Phoolan as fighter for the Dalit cause. He seeks to know why Phoolan accepted the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was instrumental in the assault on Mayawati." " Going to Chambal and killing people is no certificate for a genuine Dalit leader,"he added.

                                          The constituency has a substantial number of Muslims, Mallahs, Binds, Yadavs and Kurmis. One assembly constituency, Auria, has a large number of Brahmins.

                                           Toeing the political line of her mentor Mulayam Singh Yadav, Phoolan says,      " we will not allow communal forces to declare India a Hindu State. "We will force those people to leave the country who are making such threats to the minority community."

                                           Political observers believe that it is a clever move on the part of Mulayam Singh Yadav to field Phoolan who belongs to Mallah caste. She is expected to get support of a major chunk of voters from her caste besides Yadavs and Muslims , who constitute Mulayam's vote bank.

                                          Senior Congress leader Lokpati Tripathi says, " Caste based voting behaviour is not that simple. Mallahs and Binds are supposed to be from similar caste group but maintain a distance from each other in the matter of roti and beti ( not dining together and refraining from inter caste marriage). Even politically Mallah and Binds often take opposite sides.

                            God's own constituency (4)

                                Bandit Queen preceded Narendra Modi in Varanasi region

                                        After bandit queen Phoolan Devi's election debut in neighboring Bhadohi constituency in 1996, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Varanasi assumed an event of national or to some extent international interest with Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal as prime candidates. Varanasi is the nerve centre of the socio-political activities of the entire purvanchal belt extending from eastern Uttar Pradesh to western Bihar. Phoolan was from Chambal-Yamuna ravine region while Modi and Kejriwal are from Gujarat and Haryana / Delhi respectively. 

                                       Just after her release from jail Bandit Queen jumped into election fray in Bhadohi and won the elections. Bhadohi was part of erstwhile Varanasi princely state and about two decades ago carved out as a new district. As a correspondent of a national news agency I covered this high profile election, accompanying  the Bandit Queen, on a few Occasions,  in her election campaign. 

                                     When I first met Phoolan at Bhadohi on April 12, 1996, she appeared to me a vajra dehatin (pure rustic). With folded hands she was urging us (journalists) to help her in the election battle. When I last met her before her assassination, she was a changed person. An elegant, dignified woman and an astute politician.A woman in unkempt dhoti was turned into a lady in beautiful saree.

                                     In 1996 I was chasing her during her campaign on the plateau of the great Vindhyas, my taxi driver reminded me of a story of Bandit Ratnakar. One day, Ratnakar threw away his arms and took up a pen to become sage Valmiki an write the great epic of the mankind, the Ramayana. On April 20, 1996, after a tiresome day-long schedule, our car stopped near a small habitation. I inquired about the village. It was named 'Dasyupur' (village of a bandit). Village elders told me it was the home of bandit Ratnakar turned Valmiki. Each year, the villagers celebrate the anniversary of of Sage Valmiki here.

                                   Chasing a Bandit Queen in India, leads you to the Bandit prophet and you simply wonder whether it is 1996 AD or BC.

                                    A base profession called journalism becomes a way of salvation in Varanasi.

                                          Idea of Varanasi                                            

            Madonna's Shanti Mantra and Varanasi Pandits

                                                             Varanasi, May 10, 1998.  "" Material girl "" Madonna's quest for spiritualism by weaving in Sanskrit mantras into her songs has impressed the pandits of Varanasi, but they want her to learn a little more of the language before reciting the hymns.

                                                               The pop icon, in her latest album  "" Ray of light", had taken verses from "Yoga Taravali , a Sanskrit classic authored by Adi Shankara of Hatha Yoga. As Sanskrit scholars lay great emphasis on correct pronunciation of the "Deva Bhasha"(language of the gods), the pandits have been quick to notice a few errors in Madonna's rendering of "Shanti-Ashtangi"" as a single in the album.

                                                                 Some pandits are surprised why she should have chosen to labour on the Yoga Taravali, which in 19 verses defines the techniques of purifying the nerves for attaining  a vibrational unity with the ultimate reality. The text, according to them , in not in vogue even among Sanskrit scholars.

                                                                  The hymn recited by Madonna goes thus:

                                                                  Vande gurunam charnarvinde 

                                                                 Sandarshita swatma sukhavabodhe

                                                                 Nihashreyase jangalkayamane

                                                                Samsara halahala, moha shantih

                                                                ( I worship the lotus feet of the Guru, which are the source of eternal happiness and self-realisation and work like an antidote  to the lethal poison generated by worldly indulgence)

                                                                  But, there some consolation for Madonna. She is the not the only one to err in Sanskrit. Pandits of Varanasi recently detected not one but two mistakes in a verse recited by Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in his address to the nation.

                                                                   Acharya Vageesh Shastri, a Sanskrit professor, has sent a letter to Mr Vajpayee advising him to learn Sanskrit properly as he is heading India, the birthplace of the mother of most of the world languages. His contention is that Mr. Vajpayee recited the verse distorting the meaning of the shloka. " Two errors in a single shloka are too much, he says.

                                                                    Referring to Madonna, Shastri, who himself has written a commentary on Yoga Taravali , feels it is amazing that a pop singer has chosen a shloka from this text which is not popular among Sanskrit scholars.

                                                                    Some feminist scholars wonder why Madonna, a post modern feminist, has now turned around to tell the womenfolk about the glory of motherhood, beside practicing the most difficult of Yoga- pranayam, breath control.

                                                                    Is it yet another trick to market herself by using an esoteric text and yogic postures or a real urge to reinvent or transform herself, some of the scholars ask.

                                                                    Commenting on the mispronunciation , Dr. B. N. Chaturvedi, a Sanskrit scholar said , " how can "Shanti-Ashtangi" bring peace to Madonna and her audiences when she pronounces "Shaanti, Shaanti" as " Shantee Shantee"?

                                                                   It is one thing to make a mistake in ordinary conversation but quite another to chant a mantra incorrectly, the scholars say. A famous instance from the scriptures say that priests of the demon king Vritrasura had recited mantras in wrong manner at a ritual aimed at ensuring the victory of the demon against Deva king Indra. The backlash empowered Indra to demolish Vritrasura.

                                                                   Acharya Vageesh Shastri is somewhat kinder to Madonna saying it was but natural for a westerner to make mistakes while reciting Sanskrit alphabets like tha, ta, da and dha etc.

                                                                   He invited western learners including Madonna to come to Varanasi and improve their language skills.

                                                                   For sociologist, the album " Ray of Light" adds yet another dimension to the already complicated problem "The MP" (the Madonna Phenomenon or Madonna Paradigm).

                                                                    A scholar at the Women's Study Centre , Banaras Hindu University said her  songs gave new identities to sub cultural groups and legitimized the role of misfits in western societies.

                                                                     No wonder that Madonna instantly appeals to Africa-Americans, Hispanics, gays and lesbians, who form a major chunk of her audiences. Now she is attracting the Non-Resident Indians(NRIs) by using Indian symbols, yogic body postures and Indian philosophical fervour, he said.

                                                                     DR. A.K. Joshi, a sociologist, feels the Indian audiences will certainly be happy to see "Om" on Madonna's right palm and a "bandhan"(sacred thread) on her wrist.

                                                                     Her songs like " it does not matter whether you are black or white, a girl or boy" has distinct political message too. Madonna, like a political strategist, challenges the hegemonic dominant culture in the United States while giving an expression to the sentiments of the sub cultural groups, Dr. Joshi points out.

                                                                      Recent studies on feminism have noted that " the Madonna phenomenon" serves as a touchstone for theoretical discussion of the issues of morality, sexuality, gender relations, gay politics, multiculturalism, feminism, race, racism, pornography and capitalism.

                                                                      And above all, while the rest of the world is trying hard to discover " the real Madonna", the lady suddenly decides to undertake a spiritual journey-destination India.

                                                                       But for ordinary listeners or viewers it is sheer joy to see their idol chanting " Japo Harinam"( chant the God's name) or " Swastiman".

                                                                       "Ray of Light" might also encourage some copycats to misuse the Indian symbols for ensuring commercial success.

                                 Idea of Varanasi

                          Varanasi means different things to different people. After the announcement of the candidature of Narendra Modi for "god's own constituency", philosophers, political scientists, sociologists, political commentators and media persons are trying to decipher the "idea of Varanasi". The rainbow city has hundreds of colours . Politically the city can be termed as " seat of Hindu orthodoxy", "birthplace of Hindu fundamentalism", " field of rebellion" and " garden of India's composite culture" etc. The city is rightly called "religious/spiritual capital of India".

                                 

                              Here are some news stories centered around some foreign dignitaries who experienced, in some way, Varanasi. They shed some light on the different facets of the eternal city.

                                                                                 Diana L. Eck 

                                   A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

                      Varanasi,  March 19, 1995. Her quest began three decades ago in bozeman, a small town in the Montana in the Rockies. It ended in Varanasi or Kashi, the city older than history and all her questions gradually dissolved in the holy Ganga.

                                           For Diana l. Eck a distinguished theologist and professor of Comparative Religion and Indian studies at Harvard, Gita and Gospel, Jesus and Jyotirlinga became one.

                                            She says that in Kashi, the Mahasmashan ( the great Charnel ground) death is not the opposite of life, death can only be the opposite of birth. The west is busy with the denial of death. To segregate death into hospitals and asylums but in Kashi death is very much part of life. The Yaksha-Yudhishthir position ( the inevitability of death) is necessary to make life worth living. 

                                          Ms. Eck, who obtained her Ph.D. from Harvard on the topic  "Cultural Glory of Kashi", says it is imperative to organise world-wide network of people who had some relationship with Varanasi to enable these spiritual citizens of Kashi to interact better.

                                           The author of the 1983 book " Banaras : City of Light" and the recently published book " Encountering the God: Spiritual Journey From Bozeman to Banaras", says " masti" as Banarasis call it, is a zest fro life, to live life to its fullest. 
                                          "Masti"does not stop at chewing Paan, consuming bhang, tasting sweets and appreciating art and culture. Masti requires a spiritual frame of mind which explores meaning of life and death, mortality and immortality.
                                            Ms. Eck worried about the deterioration of Kashi as centre of learning, the miserable condition of the city especially riverfront and decreasing cultural awareness .
                                             She says that unique cultural flavour of Kashi must be preserved.  Knowledgeable people and citizen groups should make concerted efforts to teach and enable people, especially new arrivals and children  to understand , appreciate and love the distinctive way of life of Kashi.
                                               The local administration should show more sensitivity and sense of urgency to make the riverfront more beautiful and preserve the crumbling buildings and temples. It would be good for the gods and people alike, she said.
                                              She said the symbolism of god as Jyotirlinga was very strong in Kashi. This sublime understanding of god as Jyotirlinga enabled her to understand Christianity differently. She quoted the gospel, "light shines in the darkness"to emphasise that Jesus is also a form of Jyotirlinga.
                                                Ms. Eck believes that India can be great example for the world of peaceful co-existence of people of different religions, cultures and languages. It was sad that at present when the world needed India's leadership, the country was midst of communal and sectarian problems.
                                                                                                                                                             She said it is true that all Indian religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism had common roots but they were changing and assuming new identities. A contemporary movement like that of the Buddhist monks in Bodha Gaya might not be stopped by a reminder of common roots of 2,500 years ago. It needed contemporary efforts and solution.
                                                  Ms. Eck was perturbed by the presence of para military forces, barbed wires and fencing around  the Gnanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple complex. It was a disgrace that Banarasis , both Hindus and Muslims, had allowed the situation to take this turn, she said.
                                                   She also said that cultural and ethical globalisation might not be able to keep up with economic globalisation. There was an urgent need to evolve a global ethics to make economic justice, gender equality and non-violence a global commitment, she said.  Human relations, however, can not be evaluated in terms of market. In the end, the final yardstick was our sense of truth, she said.
                                                      Ms. Eck finds some solace when she hears the rickshaw bells in the heart of the city. It is like melodious song to her.
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                               Idea of Varanasi

                          Varanasi means different things to different people. After the announcement of the candidature of Narendra Modi for "god's own constituency", philosophers, political scientists, sociologists, political commentators and media persons are trying to decipher the "idea of Varanasi". The rainbow city has hundreds of colors . Politically the city can be termed as " seat of Hindu orthodoxy", "birthplace of Hindu fundamentalism", " field of rebellion" and " garden of India's composite culture" etc. The city is rightly called "religious/spiritual capital of India". Now the Banarasis hope that they will elect a Member of Parliament who might become Prime Minister of world's largest democracy.

                                 

                              Here are some news stories centered around some foreign dignitaries who experienced, in some way, Varanasi. They shed some light on the different facets of the eternal city.

                      

                              Princess Margaret in Varanasi slum

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                              Varanasi, March 2, 1996. Dulari sits quietly at the door of of her hut while a lensman from Britain tries to capture on film the creases on her face left by a life of hardship.

                               The sudden interest of Fleet Street in the inhabitants of Kazzakhpura, one of the worst slums in the "world's oldest living city" was sparked off by the brief visit of the  Princess Margaret, an an executive director of UNICEF.

                              She wanted to acquaint herself with implementation of the basic urban services under the antipoverty programme funded by the international agency. The duchess, after her visit flew back home and declared to the press that she found a " sublime layer of spiritual living , contentment and family commitment" in Dulari and other inhabitants of the slum.

                              Her comparison of slum life in India with the " materially rich but spiritually improvised " life in London, predictably invited the wrath of the media. The Times and The Sunday Express published articles critical of Princess Margaret's observations, touching a raw nerve of the royal family- the marital discord in the younger generation. Columnist Nigella dealt the issue more on a theoretical plane in The Times while Peter Birkett of The Sunday Express air dashed all the way from London to Varanasi to spend a night in a weaver's hut in Kazzakhpura.

                                 Nigella sought to know that apart from appreciating slum life, if one is really offered a choice of living in St. James Palace or in a Varanasi slum, a second thought is needed. " It may be crude to point out that the Duchess, an admirer of the life that is lived in such poverty, has been staying in comfort in modern hotels during her visit".

                                 Princess Margrate's "realisation of Western decadence was the result of a sense of guilt about our own material comfort and a feeling of disappointment that these do not make us as happy as we would like to be", The Times said.

                                 The Duchess's statement that she envied the Hindu women for fostering a society which values its elders and respects the commitment towards the family was a "sort of new-age speak which the royal family has of late mastered", Nigella said.

                                 Meanwhile the city administration, on its part, is pleased that the Duchess had shown appreciation of their efforts to improve the living conditions in the slums.