How Mayawati became the voice of Dalit society and the fighting heroine

Mayawati's coming into politics is also a very interesting incident. Kanshi Ram's connoisseur had recognized the leadership potential of Mayawati and the future leader hidden in her.

Smt Sucheta Kriplani Hospital in New Delhi, where Ramrati, wife of Prabhudas, who worked as a postal worker in Gautam Buddha Nagar, gave birth to a daughter. But who knew that this girl, born in a poor and Dalit family, would become the most powerful woman of the weakest section of Indian society - the Dalits - and would be the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, one of the largest states of India, four times. Which political analysts will remember as a miracle of democracy.

Yes, we are talking about Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, popularly known as Behenji, among our supporters, who has turned 66 on 15 January.

Mayawati was born on 15 January 1956 in a Dalit family. He has 6 brothers and 2 sisters. The sons of the family were sent to private schools, while the daughters were educated in government schools. In the male dominated society, sons are always given more preference and Mayawati had to face this since childhood.

Even today, when there are very few women in the leadership role in Indian society, at such a time, a Dalit woman will get the credit of being the head of a party and the first Dalit woman Chief Minister, perhaps no one would have imagined that.

How Mayawati came into politics

Mayawati's coming into politics is also a very interesting incident. She had been stubborn and aggressive since childhood. The sting of caste used to bother him again and again. Therefore, at a very young age, with her rebellious attitude, in a public program in 1977, she clashed with the political leader Rajnarayan. He was the same Raj Narayan, who defeated the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the election from Rae Bareli. This incident became a topic of discussion everywhere.

This incident wrote the script for the meeting of Manyavar Kanshi Ram and Mayawati. As soon as Kanshi Ram came to know about it, without any prior information he reached Mayawati's house. This was the time when Mayawati was preparing for the Civil Services Examination. When Mayawati's family suddenly saw Kanshi Ram at their house, their happiness knew no bounds.

Kanshi Ram's connoisseur had recognized the leadership potential of Mayawati and the future leader hidden in her. Impressed by Mayawati, he said, 'Your intentions, courage and some specialties have come to my notice. One day I will make you such a big leader that not one collector but all collectors will stand in front of you with files. Only then will you be able to work properly for the people.

These words of Kanshi Ram made a deep impact on Mayawati. From here his political journey started. But this journey was not so easy, at every step he had to face the poisonous bites of the malevolent society. Due to social pressure, Mayawati's father asked her to choose between home or politics and she devoted her life to politics.

Mission to make Bahujan Samaj aware

Mayawati left her house and started living in BAMCEF's office in Karol Bagh, Delhi and started the mission work from there. With determination, Mayawati told Kanshi Ram, 'Now I want to devote my life to the mission. I don't want to get married, I don't want to be bound by family.

Impressed by this resolution, Kanshi Ram started encouraging and pursuing them. But this thing also did not suit many people. Where was a woman going to move forward for the sick people of the male-minded mentality, when they are not able to match, then try to stop the character of any woman by pointing her finger at the Indian society. There has been an old perverted mentality. Mayawati also had to bear all this when questions started arising about her stay in office. But Mayawati, without caring about the mentality of 'Manuwadi Samaj', continued the mission of making Bahujan Samaj aware day and night. This devotion of his made him special in the eyes of Dalits.

For a few years, Mayawati continued to do teaching work in a school in Delhi, but gradually she was completely engaged in the work of BAMCEF. Soon Mayawati became famous due to her aggressive attitude. Gandhi, Brahminists and Congressmen were his special targets.

Keeping Gandhi's casteist views in front of the people, she would constantly ask people to get rid of the word 'Harijan'. She would say, 'If we are the children of Harijans, then was Gandhi the son of Satan.'

When BSP was established in 1984, he was given the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati started walking from village to village to get people to join BSP, even in the office there was an influx of people coming to meet her. Gradually, his stature started increasing, so he started getting a chair in the programs. His sitting on the chair was an 'undeclared attack' on the malevolent system.

Election journey

In view of Mayawati's fame, in 1984 she was contested from Kairana Lok Sabha seat of Muzaffarnagar district. In 1985, he contested the by-election from Bijnor and contested the Haridwar by-election in 1987. He did not win in any of these elections.

In 1989, she won the first election from Bijnor and thus defying all the difficulties, Mayawati stepped into the Parliament. In the year 1995, she was also a member of the Rajya Sabha and in the same year Mayawati also became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the first time.

After this, in 1997, she again became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. In 2001, Kanshi Ram declared Mayawati as his successor. After this, he changed his strategy in 2007 and formed the government with full majority by giving the slogan 'Sarvajan Hitay Sarvajan Sukhaye'.

Mayawati's style-e-politics some more

While Kanshi Ram liked to mingle with people, Mayawati liked to keep calm and work according to her strategy, this quality makes her more powerful. Mayawati has never been media friendly, so she considers political debates a waste of time. This attitude of his continues even today. Neither she herself is involved in political speculations nor does she allow party workers to participate. She always gives priority to the ground work.

Mayawati always ran power as an efficient and strict administrator. She used to strictly enforce the rule of law. An anecdote of his reign became the subject of much discussion in the political circles when a prominent farmer leader from Uttar Pradesh, Mahendra Singh Tikait, in a public meeting, in which Ajit Singh was also present - hurled casteist abuses at Mayawati. Mayawati immediately ordered the arrest of Tikait. Tikait immediately fled to his village Sisauli (Muzaffarnagar). The water and electricity were cut off by siege the village. In the end Tikait had to surrender before the police and apologize.

Mayawati came out strong by constantly facing the challenges. Even a conspiracy was hatched to kill her in the form of guest house incident, but she never panicked and always fought for the cause of Dalits.

At the time of her power, Mayawati put the 'big goons' of UP behind bars, while many went underground. The opposition also considers his iron for strict administration. Be it a person of any caste or religion, the general public of the state always felt safe under the BSP rule. Especially the Dalits, the exploited, women liked the rule of a woman Chief Minister very much.

Gave voice to the voiceless

Mayawati gave voice to the voiceless, for her the interest of Dalit society was always paramount. Therefore, whether it is the case of Rohith Vemula or the Saharanpur violence, he resigned from the Rajya Sabha keeping the interest of the society ahead. He fulfilled Babasaheb Ambedkar's dream 'become a ruler' and taught Dalits to walk with self-respect. He has been nominated several times among the most influential personalities of India.

Mayawati's strong and fearless image in a male dominated society makes her a role model for all women today. Due to the work done by her, people of Dalit society still feel proud remembering the golden days of Mayawati's rule.

Dalit society has always seen Mayawati as its voice and heroine fighting for itself. He has got this position only because of his hard struggles.