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‘Untouchable’ Kumari Mayawati set to be PM
The low-caste woman who is widely seen as destined to lead her country is raking in £7.7m a year – 14,000 times the average Indian’s salary
In many ways, the Kumari Mayawati story is every bit as inspiring and improbable as the one which propelled Barack Obama to the White House. One of nine children born to a lowly telecoms clerk in Delhi, her caste background, as a dalit, or untouchable, would usually have led to a career working with leather, sweeping nut shells from the floors of train carriages, or cleaning up animal excrement.
But Mayawati managed to get an education and trained as a teacher. At one public meeting, she was spotted 'spitting fire' by Kanshi Ram, the founder of the BSP, a party which represented dalits.
He took her under his wing, and, after gaining political experience in several unsuccessful local campaigns in the 1980s, in 1995 she started the first of several terms as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state. Now, with national elections coming up in May, she's favourite to become Prime Minister.
Her tax records are being investigated – but nobody seems particularly incensed
So, for millions across the subcontinent, Mayawati provides a powerful message of how any Indian, irrespective of their caste or sex, can rise to the top.
The problem is, she's also shown exactly how easy it is to milk the system once you get there. Consisting mostly of political donations, her yearly earnings of £7.7m are roughly 14,000 times the average Indian's salary. She now has more than 70 properties, more than 50 bank accounts and a campaign fleet of 12 planes and three helicopters.
Though her tax records are currently the subject of a criminal investigation, nobody seems particularly incensed. As one dalit explained: "While millions of us lead a life of hardship, at least one of us has good money."
Mayawati's garish abuse of political power comes to a head every year on her birthday, January 15. The day is called 'self-respect day', during which the whole of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is painted in the blue and white colours of the BSP.
Typically, surrounded by lifesize Mayawati cut-outs, she takes to a huge Bollywood-themed stage wearing a bright pink dress and her finest diamonds. Party officials then spoon the first slices of a Black Forest Gateau into her mouth. This year, to mark her turning 53, the cake was 53kg, the weight of a small adult.
As the assorted policemen, bureaucrats and local politicians rely on Mayawati's favour for their jobs, they prove their loyalty with an average birthday donation of £3,900 per person. On one occasion, her presents included 100,000 ladoos (sweet dumplings) and lilies and orchids flown all the way from Holland.
It is Mayawati’s ideological flexibility that keeps winning her votes
There are other dictatorial excesses: huge bronze statues of her and her mentor Kanshi Ram have been erected all over Uttar Pradesh; she's written a 2,400-page 'Blue Book' about herself, with a chapter titled 'If People Call me a Super Chief Minister, what can I do?'
Along with this personality cult, some admittedly successful social projects and a bit of hired muscle - one of her party's candidates is a mafia don facing charges of murder and kidnapping - it is Mayawati's ideological flexibility which keeps winning her votes.
Apart from the promotion of dalits, she stands for very little, and has been happy to mould her policies to forge alliances with Brahmins, Muslims or any group who'll support her. That is why, despite her Palinesque lack of foreign policy experience, she's in the best position to emerge as India's leader if, as expected, the May elections end in a hung parliament.
Essentially, she has much the same stance as Kanshi Ram, who when asked "are you leftist, rightist or centrist?" replied with a grin, "I am opportunist." ·
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It is quite unlikely that Manmohan will return as PM after the election.
The next person to be PM will be the 15th one.Besides,election is for the 15th lok sabha.
Mayawati was born on 15th.
We know that 15 adds up to 6(1+5=6)
At present,as far as I know,there is no possible prime ministerial aspirant who has this "triple 15"!
India has so far got 14 prime ministers. But,so far, none with birth number 3 or 6 has become the PM.
Another important prime ministerial aspirant is Pawar,whose birth number is 3.
Will the jinx of number 3 or 6 be nullified this time and one whose birth number is 3/6 be sworn in as PM?
If so,Mayawati has more chances. Since her birth number is 6 she is influenced by numbers 3,6 and 9.
At the first time, she was sworn in as chief minister on June 3. For the second time,it was on March 21(2+1=3).For the 3rd time,it was on May 3. At the time of becoming CM for the 4th time she was 51 years old.
Underwood is intolerant to upcoming of Dalith politicians. If Underwood is not having any prejudices, I invite him to write an article on Dalith Welfare activities at Karnataka State, where Bharatiya Janata Party is ruling. Some clues are as mentioned hereunder. The Central Government has waived off 60,000 crore rupees loans taken by Farmers. Thanks to Congress Government. On the same line Mayavati has taken a Decision to waive off loans taken by daliths by SC/ST development corporation. But, in Karnataka, eventhough there is demand from Dalith movement to waive off just 180 Crore rupees dalith loans at Dr. Ambedakr Development Corpration, the Chief Minister Mr. Yadiyurappa did not do it. Why? the answer is simple, it is because of Casteist Mind. In Karnatka no effort is made to fill up 20,000 backlog posts meant for SC/STs, or say, slum dogs. No Cabinet sub-committee is formed to review the progress of Backlog recruitment. The special component grants allocated in last two years state budget to the tune of Rs. 4691 crores is not spent by Mr Yadiyurappa Government. Casteist Minds work behind this. The slum dogs are not given their due share. No welfare measures are taken up for SC/ST in the state of Karnataka, by BJP Government. Whereas this "Priestly Government" has allotted Rs. 130 crores to mutts and temples of some upper castes to get their votes. What a corrupting of voters minds!!!!!!!!!!!. This type of allocation of funds is against the Indian Constitution. Dear underwood kindly write an article on this. Then I can understand you better. I can keep your name in my heart. Otherwise I think that you have written an article on Mayavati with prejudices. Finally, I dont have any prejudices. The Congress Government at the centre has performed best. Anyway, make a report on Negligence of SC/ST Welfare at Karnataka.
Harry Underwood seems to be ignorant about Indian Politics. Who does not know Former Prime Minister Indra Gandhi, BJP Leaders and others have done more pomp and show then Miss Mayawati.
She is very shrewd politician and very high level of political maturity. She is the only one who brought BSP part to prominence in such a short span of time.
She is the only honest politician in India right now. Her supporters donated through small funds which grew to lakhs of Rupees. She paid almost more then 20 lakhs of Rupees income tax. Which politician paid that much tax. India is basically a corrupt country, it is only Mayawati who will clean this mess.
She is is very much foresighted and strong administrator. She brought the whole administration to village level, where all complaints and unfinished job are done.
India is divided in to more then 7500 casts, where Dalits are at the bottom. It is so admiring her capabilities, rising to this level and She is going to be the future Prime Minister.
She is the only one who will bring change and hope to India.
India was called the country of golden sparrow. In the last 3000 years this country has been turned to bowl of dust. Who think about India, every body think about their pocket. The level of corruption is so high, now it is part of the system.
It is BSP who will bring change.
I wish Mayawati good luck and bring this country back to its golden glory. India can not develop, until Dalits develops. They comprise almost 1/3 of the Indian population
The article portrays Mayawati in her true colours. She befools the dalits in the name of Dr. Ambedkar and manupulates the political power for her personal gain. She has totally betrayed the Ambedkar mission and dalit movement. Her sole objective is to gain political power by hook or by crook to make pesonal gain as a result of which she has become the richest politician of India. She sells Assembly and Parliament tickets at exorbitant rates thereby has corrupted the dalit politics. She has squandered public money on creating her own monuments and installing her own statues. She has earned U.P. state a dubious distinction of being alarmingly corrupt state in India. Dalits are doomed to suffer atrocities under her rule. At present U.P. has got the distinction of a state with the highest number of atrocities aginst the dalits. At present U.P. dalits are the most backward dalits in whole of India excepting Bihar and Orissa dalits. U.P. State has also suffered regression on account of her corrupt rule. Dalits and other weaker sections of society have been deprived of the benefits of all welfare schemes due to all pervading corruption of which Mayawati is the fountainhead. Now there is a cry to save the dalits from Mayawati and save the country also.
What a sad post by Rahul Gajbhiye. While no objective person can dispute the horrible wrongs done in the name of caste in India, it is unfortunate for Rahul to use that to justify Mayawati's outrageous behaviour as Chief Minister of UP. I was born in Lucknow (capital of UP) and travel there frequently. I can vouch for Mr. Underwood's description of Mayawati's excesses. To accuse the 'messenger' of racism etc. for reporting the truth is misplaced and pathetic. Mayawati's misuse of public funds and her personal excesses are legendary -- even by local standards. And we are talking about one of the most corrupt and mismanaged state in India! Mayawati's competition (and nemesis) in the state -- a guy called Mulayam Yadav, is not a Dalit and comes in a close second behind her. Both these individuals represent large voting 'blocks' that they take for granted, and are equally incompetent. Honestly discharging their duties as elected officials to the general population is somewhat incidental to them. They both thrive in their medieval world of graft, personal aggrandizement, and naked exercise of power. No wonder UP is one of the poorest and most backward looking states of India. Heaven forbid if either Mayawati or Mulayam become the Prime Minister of that country!
Rahul, who I assume is a Dalit, should be outraged at Mayawati for misusing the goodwill of her constituency for her personal gains. Instead of genuinely helping her state and its people, she resorts to sloganeering and symbolisms. Any serious discussion of her performance gets quickly mired by name calling and charges of racism. But that does not insulate her from the law. Assuming India is a country governed by laws that are vigorously enforced.
Caste politics and its supporters are mostly short sighted people. When they reach positions of power, they do more damage than good. Mayawati is no exception. Thank you Mr. Underwood for an informative article.
Dear Rahul, Hats off to you. You have given a very befitting reply to this castist author. It clearly reflects, the amount of frustration these guys are going through. They can never accept a dalit and that too a very eligible person for any higher post.
Mr. Author, why dont you report the assets of Soniya Gandhi and her family. also dont forget any of the other leaders from other national party. I bet their annual income ( the one that they show would be lower than the BPL families) would be in comparison to any of the top ten billionairres in world
Mr Harry Underwood
Your article is full of caste and gender discrimination.
1) When Barack Obama was contesting the race to become President of USA, did you write the same kind of
articles? You would never dare to write but you can simply write against Mayawati because she is dalit and secondly woman.
2) In most of your writings castist psychology reflects. Are you a Hindu? Or have you been influenced by Hindu caste people.
3) To know the importance of Bahan Kumari Mayawati capturing the master keys of Indian Parliament, you need to read, learn hindu caste system and the revolts against Brahminical Social Order by Gautam Buddha, Charvak, Mahavir, Guru Nanak, Guru Ravidass, Saint Kabir, Saint Ghasidass, Pandit Ayothidass, Ayyankali, Narayana Guru, EVR Periyar, Shahuji Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Manyawar Kanshiramji.
4) Your title says Untouchable multimillionaire, in the article you mentioned about diamonds and birthday gifts:
This clearly exposed your caste and racist psychology that untouchables should not celebrate birthdays, should not wear diamonds, should not share the joyous moments in the society. This was the law of manusmruti which was the constitution for more than 3000 years.
Have you assessed the income and assets of other indian upper caste leaders like Soniya Gandhi, LK Advani, Bajpaye, PV Narasinha Rao, Jayalalita, Pranav mukhanjee, P Chidambaram...
Do you know that most of the assests mentioned by Income tax department are donated by the caders of BSP?
In India in 2009 Untouchability exists and caste discrimination is more aggressive both in urban and rural india. Will you ever expose the caste discrimination?
To counter and rectify the effects of its brutal caste system, India needs a government run by the people from the most oppressed sections. In the last 50 years and more, if you see the political parties and Prime Ministers and their policies you will understand the current situation of Dalits, tribals, Backward castes and converted minorities and poor Brahmins.
Mayawati has brought revolution in India's biggest state Uttar Pradesh. This revolution can only be seen with unbiased eyes and minds. If you believe the Indian media you will be misguided completely as it works on the tunes of upper caste industrialists.
Her policies have given justice not only to oppressed but to the poor people in upper caste also and that's why the people from Sarva Samaj have full faith in the leadership of Mayawati: Sarvajan Hitaya sarvjan Sukhay: Welfare of ALL
I hope these facts will educate you to write the true picture of India and Mayawati.
JAI BHEEM!