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Journalism of Courage
IKE cricket, Indian politics is full of glorious uncertainties. But it is also full of possibilities too. Amidst the numerous highlights of the recent elections, amidst the marigold-garlanded winners and the pale-faced losers of the game of electoral dice, amidst the Laloos and Navins and Om Prakash Chautalas in the fray, there was Madhya Pradesh8217;s Shabnam Mausi, as large as life. So who is Shabnam Mausi? Who is this Great Unfamiliar who essayed a famous win in a state assembly by-election 8212; Madhya Pradesh8217;s Sohagpur 8212; and polled more votes than those won by her formidable Congress and BJP rivals put together? To term politicians who are particularly ineffective as 8220;hijras8221; or 8220;eunuchs8221; is a common form of abuse. There is some irony then in the fact that India now has a eunuch for a politician. Yes, the very same Shabnam Mausi straddles both sexes. She is what is known in popular parlance as a 8220;hijra8221;. In fact, she is the country8217;s first eunuch to be elected as a legislator.
Deconstructing her win then is something of a temptation. Why did people vote for Shabnam Mausi? The BJP candidate, who had lost to her, believed that it was some kind of joke perpetrated by people who had lost faith in political institutions. Perhaps it was. Such resentment, if indeed it was there, is hardly surprising given the fact that politicians, whether male or female, whether from this party or that, have systematically and convincingly let the people down. Shabnam8217;s constituency is a relatively high profile one, and had been represented by such eminences as the former governor of Gujarat, Krishna Pal Singh. But while those whom the people voted for went from strength to strength and carved out formidable political reputations for themselves, it made little difference to the region and to the lives of ordinary voters. Therefore, voting for Shabnam Mausi may well be an attempt to convey a message to the high and mighty: don8217;t take us for granted, or else8230;
Clearly, the ascendancy of the eunuch in politics is creating its own momentum. Uma Bharati of the BJP has been quick to jump on to the bandwagon. She has already indicated that her party would be open to the idea of fielding eunuchs as candidates in future elections.
