We pass by an election poster and I asked.
IHM: "So do you think Sanjay Dutt will win from your home town?"
Driver #2 : "He will win."
IHM: "Yeah I read somewhere, he has no rivals ...others have criminal cases against them ... or are not popular."
Driver #1: "Let there be anybody against him."
IHM: "Is he that popular?"
Driver #2 : "He said he would not have fought against Vajpayee-jee."
(In a tone that implied nothing could be more honorable.)
IHM: Oh Vajpayee jee? But why is Vajpayee jee so popular?
Offended silence.
IHM: Err... I mean of course he made great speeches, of course he is highly respected, no criminal cases against him either... So you think Sanjay Dutt would really have never won against him?
Driver #2 : Sanjay Dutt would not have fought against him.
IHM: But I had no idea BJP was popular there...
Driver #1 and Driver #2 : BJP no, not BJP! Our vote is always for Sa Pa. (SP)
IHM: And Amar Singh? What do you think of Amar Singh? Do you like him?
Driver #1 : We vote for Mulayam jee.
(I take it that this means they would not have voted if Amar singh was the candidate ...)
IHM: And how is BSP?
Driver #1: Mayawati has made her statues everywhere. (More details explaining why they don't like her ...) But she has all the votes of X and Y castes and now even Z community.
IHM: Why vote for caste or religion!? Vote for whoever does something for road and electricity.. look at the condition of these NCR roads! Isn't it wrong to practice untouchability ?
Silence.
IHM: Is it still practiced?
Driver#1: When X & Y castes visit, they are given chairs to sit.
IHM: So you respect both ... I thought both couldn't be put in the same bracket!
Silence.
IHM: Doesn't that show respect????
Driver #1: Only chairs are offered. No charpoys.
I have no idea what this means... ! But they thought I understood and I didn't want to show my ignorance, and anyway they were clear Sanjay Dutt will win and if he is stopped from fighting elections, than his wife Manyata will win. In Sanjay Dutt's case the votes will not be for caste.
I realised I could not discuss Manyata's comments on wifely duties here...
Now let's see how right these guys are proved eventually!
EDITED TO ADD: X and Y castes are Dalits and Brahmans.
45 comments:
i am left wondering wat wud have happ have u discussed Manyata's stand in all this soup... :-|
Let not one person's opinion become a statement for the city. And what if the BJP is popular here? I'd like to know - what's the big deal about it?! They did more for the roads and electricity here than Mulayam and Mayawati put together!
@The Rat LOL I think it would have taken a lot of time to make them see what I meant and why does it matter...and that would have been followed by SILENCE :))
@D I was waiting to read your reaction :D
This is just a funny post, I thought they were very serious about all their answers and very passionate in their support to Sa Pa ... Since we have blogged about Sanjay Dutt, I wanted to hear what somebody who lives there would have to say.
Not a serious post, that is why I called it a Mini-Exit-Poll :)
Interesting :)
we will have to wait and see..
after all those posts by so many here on how strongly we feel about him entering politics and even others who have a criminal record..it will be very interesting to see how everything turns out..
LOL@"He said he would not have fought against Vajpayee-jee."
(In a tone that implied nothing could be more honorable.)
IHM: Oh Vajpayee jee? But why is Vajpayee jee so popular?
Offended silence.
IHM: Err... I mean of course he made great speeches, of course he is highly respected, no criminal cases against him either... So you think Sanjay Dutt would really have never won against him
I could just about imagine the offended silence :D
and you trying to make up for it..:D
yeah good thing you didnt get into the manyata topic..:D
it would have been one long one sided conversation with a lot of silence:D
IHM,
:) yeah, let us see.... :)
He is not wrong. They don't really care about his criminal activities after all there have been bigger criminals who won from the state, the ones who actual indulged in criminal activites like murder. Dutt is a poor guy who was caught with a gun.
He has his Gandhigiri to show which most villagers would take it for real and then his wife this ideal Bharatiya naari who adopted a Hindu name and all wifely duties of a Hindu stree. Sanjay Dutt is all set.
As for Vajpayee, in my opinion one of the best leaders India saw.
My maid is all for the Gandhis because "They are khaandani rajah's" Democracy, roads, electricity etc be hanged!!!!
Lets see what the polls actually throw up - but I think Sanjay Dutt has a good possibility of victory as criminal records seem to be the last thing on people's minds.. I read somewhere that people are 'honored' that 'Munnabhai' is contesting from 'their city'!!!!! As for Vajpayee - I second Solilo - I think he was one of India's best leaders!
u knw my dad says ultimately our country is going to be divided based on our caste. Our politicians are gunning for it and that is how it is going to end.
A lot of us may have denounced caste, but the lower economic strata of our country still vehemently follows it and refuse to change or see reason.
And Welcome Back!
Yup, I don't think he's wrong. In terms of the criminalisation in UP Politics, Sanjay Dutt is just a kid...
Of course, he'll win. But I wish, he, had the chance to be a role model. He should've served his sentence, made an example out of himself and then turned a new leaf. Even I would've voted for him then.
He could have been such a powerful leader, maybe he will be, you never know but this circus that he's indulging in right now, this kinda reveals him.
But Sanjay Dutt too has criminal cases against him, right??
Its nice, I think you tried your reasoning with those drivers, I think all of us should do that. Make them think, and ask them to refrain from voting on the basis of a candidate's caste/Religion and rather vote for someone who takes care of area's basic needs like electricty, water, sanitation,roads, and is anti-corrupt (ignore the last one, guess it will be too difficult to find someone like that ;-) )
Welcome back :-)!!
Have written 25 points, that tag thingi..:-)! Do read it, writing something abt ENERGY soon.:)!!
Sanjay Dutt will win? Sad, sad, sad! But that's how I feel after most election results anyway. Why? Whereever are the good candidates? The one who can inspire an Obama-like fan-following and sycophatic devotion? The ones who will be our change and who we can thump our chests for? Where?
@Offended silence.
You hurt his feeling :P
Hey I do not agree with Mayawatji too, she's the lowest common denominator for me.
@No charpoys - boy, that must be it, root of all our problems.
Ya, I agree Sadly, Sanjay Dutt moron will win, because he's popular and well less than mediocre thinker. The point is not this is one persons opinion the thing is there people decide the poll, not the "educated" people, they'll be mostly be bought with Notes and Daru.
This is the sad part for our democracy. People, particularly those from rural background are ignorant. No one is bothered that this is a national elections and is about national issues. No one is bothered if Sanjay Dutt is convicted in Bombay Blasts or whether SP and BSP have done anything for UP.
wow!!!
this is the true democracy of India...God bless us all...
as Pinku commented, this is democracy, God Bless us!
yeah I saw some of his speeches..like this one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A94JrH5oWlE
same 'ol.. same 'ol...and just more of the same...I agree with mamma mia..I wish we had someone on the national scene who was as dynamic as obama and someone who didn't have a priviledged past or a criminal record..someone we could trust our country with.
You have two drivers ????? Woah !!!!
I am praying hardddd for India's future.... I just love my country too much... irrespective of all the shit around! :D
Makes you wonder whether India has really progressed?
BTW Sanjay Dutt even if he wins cannot make the impact unless he really devotes his time to serve the people which needs to be seen.
Only time can tell...
IHM be aware exits polls are banned this election ;-)
i dont know if vajpayee jee makes great speeches.. when he was in power and used to make hazar speeches, i used to find him painfully slow...
and honestly i dont like even one of the politicians in the fray...
u shud hv brought up manyata and her concept of wifely duties just to see the reaction..
IHM,The title should have been mini Opinion poll right?
Good that you were not talking to a driver in Kerala.He would have been more well informed than you on current politics.
Who votes more on basis of caste/religion?Lower class[drivers] or Upper class? Are we eligible to teach them?
It is amazing how the crazy Dutt managed to change into a greying politician. Maybe he will win and sit in the parliament...after all he has the prerequisites...a politician father, a term in prison, loads of cash. Sigh! This looks bad.
@Indyeah LOL yes, Manyata topic would have resulted in some more silences :)
@OG :)
@Solilo I agreethey will vote fo rhim, because for them, 'Dutt is a poor guy who was caught with a gun.' while they have to choose from amongst those with murder cases against them !
@Phoenix ritu And still they vote for whoever promises them immediate relief and support, only the promises are generally not kept.
@Smitha I agree, I think this is true! They really speak fondly of him.
@Imp's Mom Yes Imp's mom this seems to be true, not just of the uneducated lot but also the educated lot, I read on a blog how Mayawati is the dalit leader who is the savior of the brahmans ... our politicians are now only saving castes and religions!!
@Rakesh 'But I wish, he, had the chance to be a role model. He should've served his sentence, made an example out of himself and then turned a new leaf. Even I would've voted for him then.' That would have been so good!
But they already think he has served his sentence and is noble and kind, comes from a non-communal family, has a wife from another community...
He might become like his father.
@Chikki They are very aware, and they discuss this in all their free time. I can't convince them to vote for anybody ... I have mentioned above how I have seen blogs delighting in the fact that Dalit ki beti is supporting brahmans also now.. it is taken as understood that voting and elections are about castes, and now we merely choose which caste-supporting candidate we vote for! And if they are blogging they are educated .. right?
@Mamma mia! Me a mamma? But do vote still! I will be less sad if we were choosing the least bad from these guys but we are choosing them for castes!!!
@Chirag Not even notes and daru will be needed now, they will vote because if the other caste leader wins their lives will be made uncomfortable, so you choose who does not bully you ...
And will you believe that even the educated people are openly discussing how a dalit ki beti will help upper castes...
@Sandy They seem to be trapped, it's the choice between their own caste or another caste! Not between roads and elctricity or schools and water connections...
@Pinku and Sandhya- Really, God bless us all!
Nitwit Nastik I was tagged to write about amy leader who would make a good PM, I am still thinking and still not able to decide if there is nay one such person .... Obama became such a cult figure here because we need one too!
@Vimmuuu rotfl :)That's all you noticed in that post! You deserve the funniest commenter award! (seriously) The drivers (cum assistants cum errand boys etc) belong to my mum. I drive myself, don't have even one driver :)
@ Jinu P I share the sentiment. Those who care for the country are the ones who are concerned about these never ending trends...
@Yogesh The amount of affection these people have for him, even a sinner would convert into a saint, but politics is too powerful and too complex... it seems he has bought a huge apartment there, so maybe he does plan to stay there. I want to HOPE.
*sigh*..
I really don't know what sort of a difference we are trying to make with this election!
We are such a minority (you know, the lot trying to make a difference?!)...
@Imp's Mom I also fear that 'ultimately our country is going to be divided based on our caste. Our politicians are gunning for it and that is how it is going to end.'
Not just caste even religion! But let's hope Mayawati reaches nowhere during this election and this trends fades away slowly ... just hoping!
This was an interesting read IHM!
Many people believe that the 'uneducated' cling to the issues of caste/language/religion etc. Not true. The educated are as guilty, if not more. Rakesh had done a post on the elections, and I noticed one comment from a techie/engineer, obviously educated, and seemingly intelligent, who hadn't ever voted, but who said if he had to, he would vote on the basis of language/region/caste. If a billion people think like that, what can we expect?
Quirky Indian
IHM, i dunno if i shud laugh or cry...
this conversation has nuances of black humour. i think i will go watch Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron...
nice script for a good thought process,but all the best for the right decisions !
Now that Sanjay is standing and the exit poll tells me he is going to win... well i hope he can do something good and not go in the same mould... of the other actor turned politicians... who win, and go back to acting... take lakhs of rupees for standing from the party win a seat and go back to their work... and dont work for the constituency..
hope he bucks the trend and actually than gets down to work...
@Nita Thanks :)
@Pixie But let's still try to make a difference Pixie, don't give up!
@Charakan These two are NOT ignorant at all, my purpose in speaking to them was not to just learn what they feel, but to know another opinion... I haven't got an undemocratic bone in me and have no sense of(or respect for) labels like class (or caste/religion/community/gender/region etc) - These two are extremely aware, and they read newspaper and discuss politics for entertainment - they know I like to hear their opinion... When I visit my mom I look forward to some very interesting and informative conversations with them...let me do a post to explain this, earlier I have also posted my maids' opinion ...
What I would also add is I don't like the idea of a PM who has been involved in any kind of criminal cases, a PM's caste or religion is of no consequence to me, EXCEPT that it should not be used for votes.
I do believe there is a possibility of voters being fooled but I don't think class has anything to do with it.
@chapoys.. its similar in my aunt's place.. thye are ultra orthdox.. though I have no idea about their political inclinations..
They are given chairs( plastic ones) coz they can be washed.. and no one else can sit by their side.. in charpoy.. umm the wooden cot seen everywhere in villages.. if someone is offered to sit on it.. they happen to touch u.. coz u already are sitting or might sleep on it in the night..
In my aunt's place they r given food and drinks in plastic vessels for the same reason.. coz steel might be used to the family.. plastic never will be.. erm *sigh*
@Monika lol ;) Now what do I do!!??
:(
@Mandira They would have never understood, atleast not without a lot of explaining...
And I agree I also think Vajpayeeji's speeches were really very slow. he seemed to think a lot after every word.
@Sujoy Bhattacharjee So true! I agree with you about his prerequisites. And just think of a situation where they think he is best bet, because like another commenter said, he is a kid compared to the rest of them, and not just age wise.
@Quirky Indian I agree, 'The educated are as guilty, if not more.'
In fact the reason why I started the discussion was to hear their point of view... they know a lot, and all first hand... like the charpoy thing was new to me. They feel their leader (caste) must win, because they fear step motherly treatment from other candidates if he doesn't...
I have read blogs delighting in Mayawati's support to certain castes, they seem to forget that elections should not be about castes in the first place.
@Crafty Shines Awwww ...do cheer up :)
The humour might be black, but the future is not crafty Shines, I am confident that our fledgling democracy is waking up, and growing up and we are going to see a more matured voter... just you watch :)
@Yogashree and Hitchwriter
Let's 'hope he bucks the trend and actually than gets down to work...'
@Winnie the Poohi Thank You for explaining :) Yes it makes sense, the plastic chairs can be washed and sitting on charpoy will make them kind of be in contact!!!
Sad! These guys also said they give plastic chairs to both the communities ... I thought they treated an upper caste and a lower caste in two different ways?
completely agree with Solilo. Sanjay Dutt will pbly win, because of all the show of 'Gandhigiri' which most of the villagers actually take for real.Added on, is the 'pativrata nari' clinging onto him like a leech. But then again, these people dont think of it that way. They actually respect her for it!
It's a little like being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea where Indian politics is concerned. If you know candidate# 1 is corrupt and want a viable alternative, you'll find none.
one just cannot fathom what ticks with another person, can we now?!
Ah!!! I always wondered what was missing which could have made us touch the silver lining of intelligence while voting.
It was the "charpoy"!!!
I loved your blog. I do not know how I landed there. But I had a tumbler of tea in my hand and I saw the cup of chai and scrolled down and stayed.
I am taking it home!
Post a Comment