Mayawati and her remarkable comeback

May 24: The recent victory of Mayawati in UP elections attracted much attention not only of Indian media but also of foreign media and numerous other institutions. She dominated the leading news on the front pages of all newspapers and screens of most of the news channels. Soon after the results were declared she was captured by the lenses all over, pens scribbled and wrote about her in north India and the international audience waited for her appearance. One click on the internet and her whole history gets displayed before you. She really has worked out a miracle and after a long and tumultuous gap of notoriety.

Several reasons can be said as being responsible for her great come back. Firstly, from the strategic point of view the sheer size of the state which she is leading and its corresponding importance in national politics calls for a special reference. This is why the ravenous media were after her and the state elections.

But there were other incentives that came with the victory, making it almost a phenomenon. U.P., the biggest state (population wise) gave a clear mandate to a single party after 17 years. Also the regional population have put on their faith on a dalit and that too on a woman, a male dominated society with little space for women elected a woman. Though Mayawati has won their faith earlier also but it is different this time as she now walks without the support of allies.

Everybody emphasised her role as a dalit leader bearing uncompromising ideology against upper castes. Further she is being appreciated for her new strategy, social engineering, which brought various upper castes into the fold of the party and put down the script of her victory. Her role as a women leader has been pushed to the corners. She is one wonder which has risen in caste-ridden, male dominated society and is definitely an example to follow for other women of India.

Her rise on political scene with her own identity is an occasion of celebration for women not only of U.P. but also to whole India. She worked for it and ultimately won, surpassing all tests. But now is the prime time, especially for the women in U.P., as what to consider and expect from their leader. Can we hope and expect better conditions for women in U.P., their greater participation at various levels in the state and beyond the state’s territories? Can we expect better social and political role of women in a society like in U.P? Will she prove a saviour of the downtrodden? Her role as a leader of women has not blossomed and it is still to be proved.

In a state with high crime and violence rates against women, low literacy rates, low sex ratio (especially in western U.P) and least political participation of women, a woman leads 16 million people and majorly because of her own efforts. Should this be taken as a positive indication of the emancipation of women?

She has proved her metal but something more is expected from her. She can be the next torch bearer and lead the women towards having a better and prosperous life. She shines as a political leader and the social arena is eagerly waiting for her initiative. She is at least expected to take special care of her fellow sisters by all possible means.

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