The Bandit Queen And An Identity Crisis

Phoolan Devi was only about three hours late, though regular messages from her cellphone kept us up to date on her whereabouts. The doleful crowd was also beginning to turn restive. They refused to come closer, and the other speakers found their punchlines being drowned by passing trucks. If you all sit in the shade and I stand in the burning sun, how will our union take place? asked one of them, throwing in Urdu couplets to impress the large Muslim turnout.

The crowd looked bored and the speaker vacated the dais for an aged maulvi. He quavered, Mulayam Singh, our venerated leader, has said, Jai jawan, jai kisan, jai musallman. We Muslims are his brothers and sisters and should vote for him. After railing against the BJP and Mayawati, he tried shouting Inquilab! But there were no lusty zindabads in response. Hasnt anyone here had breakfast? he asked desperately.

 

Then suddenly, it all became clear. An announcement over the mosque microphone, barber so-and-sos granddaughters janaaza, (funeral procession) will leave now. Most of the people everyone assumed had come to see Phoolan, got up and left. I did too.

Her other public meetings have had better responses. Although her shock value seems to have declined, she has still managed to generate interest here. In keeping with the latest fashions, Phoolan has been apologising for not having done much for her constituency. And a lot of people believe her story about her plans being sabotaged by the saffron brigade. She has really come a long way, says Jameel, a Gopiganj resident admiringly. Last year, she could barely get a couple of words out but now, shes speaking confidently, and seems to have learnt a lot about this areas problems. An educated driver Jameel voted for the Bandit Queen last time and has done so again. His name is on the electoral rolls of three villages. I voted thrice during the municipal corporation elections, he says smugly, swearing by a special masala which removes the indelible ink mark. On being asked whether he would do the same again, he changed the topic.

Many women have also turned up for Phoolans meetings. The conservative Danupur village, for example, saw hordes of women participate in her rally. Whether this will mean votes is what keeps everyone betting.

All this campaigning leads one to wonder at the impact that it has on the people here. Many went excitedly to see what this neta looks like. And these are the people who would probably vote for her again, because of the caste-religion factor alone.

The other day, Kesha Devi came to work bursting with news. Phoolan came to our village yesterday. She spoke so well, she raved. Are you going to vote for her? I asked. Yes, last time also I voted for her, but she lost, she said. Puzzled, I explained,Phoolan has represented this constituency in parliament all this while. Kesha Devi looked at me pityingly and said, No, no she lost last year. Our neta till now has been Mayawati!