A different tune,for a change

Sarabhais words hit a wall of cynicism. There has been no water supply for four days,the gutter overflows.  I am least interested if it is BJP,Congress or Independent,you people come only before the elections. First clear up this mess and then talk about votes, says an agitated Priti Modi,a housewife residing in the colony of 500-odd houses built by the Slum Clearance Board.

Sarabhai,sporting her trademark bindi and silver ear rings clasps Pritis hand,reassures her that she can be the political change that the housewife perhaps thought was needed. It is this need for change that Sarabhai has turned into her campaign platform. All her campaign materials,and her newly launched website promise change.

It was on March 19 that Sarabhai announced that she would contest from Gandhinagar as an Independent candidate backed by civil rights groups,activists and a section of Ahmedabad intelligentsia. And thereafter,her political debut has been endorsed by the likes of Salman Rushdie,actor Om Puri,theatre groups and other thespians.

Her resume is impressive. A Ph D,an IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus,daughter of scientist Vikram Sarabhai and noted dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai,scion of one of Ahmedabads oldest industrialist families,and head of Darpana a noted dance academy.

But no one has any doubts about the election outcome in Gandhinagar. Not even Advanis most serious rival here,the Congresss Suresh Patel,the Dehgam MLA,who stands completely overshadowed by Advanis political stature and Sarabhais glamour quotient.

Sarabhais activist friends say it is a moral fight,a notional fight. Her illustrated pamphlet lists out her aunt Mridula Sarabhai,a Gandhian freedom fighter,father Vikram Sarabhai who established ISRO and the Physics Research Laboratory and herself with former president A P J Abdul Kalam and Hillary Clinton. The pamphlet reads: Will you support me? Will you give me your vote?

Dr Mallika Sarabhai,who takes forward the patriotic fervour and national pride of the Sarabhai family.

Her supporters note down every complaint,with phone numbers and addresses; a cameraman shoots the surroundings; a drummer sets the right mood among the young volunteers. Then,in the hot morning sun, the danseuse who has the harmonium as her poll symbol,breaks into an impromptu jig. Some from the small crowd,mostly children,dance with her.

It is a fight on moral grounds,say her supporters,while detractors say she only adds to the glamour quotient,a colourful relief, to a very predictable poll outcome.

But Sarabhai explains it is the right time for her to make a political debut. If I dont contest now,it will be too late five years from now, she says,adding that Indian politics is going from bad to worse and it needs to be reclaimed from the hands of politicians involved in all sorts of crime,corruption and horse-trading.

Walking around in Gota Housing Colony,she stops at a BJP autorickshaw distributing Advani masks to children. Mallika,too,gets one. Pointing at the filth,the overflowing gutters,she says,The politicians,all of them should be hauled in the court for this.

Volunteers from her dance troupe,daughter,friends sporting her election colours violet,red and white break into another jig with the children,so does Mallika. A curious young mother runs up to know which Mallika she was: Mallika Sherawat ki Mallika biji or the other Mallika?

Smiling,walking along at a brisk pace,she greets,clasps hands and hugs everyone who crosses her way,talking and promising change. She might yet have many political miles to go,but very few go the way she does.