Marandi pitches in for prodigal Romesh

Marandi pitches in for prodigal Romesh
Santanu Saraswati
Dumka, May 25—He came, he spoke, and he conquered. All for his legatee. When the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Dumka-2 Lok Sabha constituency, Romesh Hembrom, arrives to address a rally at Asansol village, yesterday late afternoon, not a soul is to be seen near the venue. But his “political guru”, State Chief Minister, Babulal Marandi, insists on going ahead with the meeting and picks up the microphone.Within minutes, 500 villagers materializes at the local Adivasi Bikalang Abasik Vidyalaya ground to hear “dharti-putra” Marandi, “crowd puller”. A woman gushes: “I could not resist his voice. I left my children at home and came to hear him.”Babulal Marandi reminds villagers of his promise to learn the local Pahariya dialect. “I have learnt half the language. But I assure you that I would learn it completely when I return here again after the polls,” he said.Taking a dig at the poll boycott call by a section of electorates, Marandi says: “I, too, like you, had to trek three kilometers, by taking my cycle on the shoulder to school. I, too, like you belong to a very poor tribal family, where education is just a fashion. I feel your sentiments from the core of my heart. Do not go for the boycott. Strengthen the hands of Atal Behari Vajpayee at the Centre, I promise you –problems will be sorted out soon.”Someone in the crowd starts shouting: “Humara leader Babulal Marandi. Babulal Marandi zindabad.” And finally Marandi stands up and asks the people to vote for the “Lotus”. The crowd responds: “Zaroor.”The Chief Minister, accompanied by his legatee Romesh Hembrom, party leader, Chottu Murmu, Pahariya leader, Ramdulal Dehri, steps down to his high security cavalcade of five bullet-proof cars, including High Frequency Jammer car acquired at Rs 1.5 crore to neutralize any remote control explosives. The Black Cats and the State SSG (special Service Group) form a virtual wall around Marandi.His next destination is village Chorkatta. Marandi waves at the women and children lining the route as his security keeps close watch.At Chorkatta, a mandir acts as the rostrum as Marandi urges residents not to heed the poll boycott call. The crowd comes up with uncomfortable questions. Madhav Saha, mukhiya (village headman) shouts: “ We don’t have any doctors here, neither have any road. We have to trek five to six kilometers for drinking water. Not a single tube-well is functioning properly here. We are completely cut off from the civilized world.” Babulal smiles and replied: “jab rajya-ka raja is road-se hi aye hein to mera wada raha, aap logo ka road ban jayega aur pine ke liye bhi sachh pani-ke banddast hoga.” (When the King of this State had to come all along this road, I promise you, the people of this village would have good road soon and proper arrangements will be made for safe drinking water).“My Government is facing many challenges. But with your support, I am sure we can sail through.”The crowd cheers.The next moment Marandi is inside his bulletproof car and the journey begins once more towards Kumhrabad—the village that lost all its green in two consecutive floods. News of a resentment filtered through to the entourage. As Kumhrabad nears, men, women and children rush out to express their tears. They forced the Chief Minister to alight from his bulletproof and move on foot. Grief stricken crowd breaks into songs full of woes. An octogenarian widow said: “Humara sab kuch loot liye Mayrakshi. Aab din gujran bhi mushkil hein. Mera beta bhi nehi hein. Kaun dekhega humko?” (The river Mayurakshi has taken away all of my belongings, I do not have a single penny even to purchase rice. I don’t have a son. Who will look after me?) Marandi used his own white handkerchief to clean up her tears and said: “Aapka yeh beta hein na?” (You have your this son). As we left Kumhrabad, the car leaves a gush of dust under its wheel, but the cheering crowds were still waving until they became little for us. EOM.
Words: 694
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