What Lok Sabha polls mean?

The 2019 parliamentary election is on, the process of deepening our democracy has started. At this moment, we need to investigate how much our democracy deepens in the interiors and amongst the marginalised, invisible communities of the Indian society. What are the desires and aspirations of these marginal groups from our State-led democracy? What do they want from the State? What do they think of elections? I have explored such questions during my field work in the interiors of India. Bundelkhand is an underdeveloped region of Uttar Pradesh which consists of four parliamentary constituencies. Bundeli is the folk and local dialect spoken in this region. The terrain is difficult with forests, hill tracts and riverine areas. Bundelkhand suffers from high outbound migration and displacement due to poverty and unavailability of livelihood. There is paucity of drinking water. Lack of water resources to irrigate lands affects agriculture in this area. The lack of employment opportunities in this region is also a major cause of the outbound migration. There are two types of migration taking place from this land: male migration and migration of entire families. The deserted family of the migrant male is a social reality in this region. This is the land of growing rural distress and has witnessed many peasant suicides.

The Bundelkhand Express appears as a metaphor of the migration from this region. One finds various songs, folk proverbs and stories which mentions Bundelkhand Express as a symbol of migration.

The scarcity of water also finds its place in various folk traditions of this region. What I gather from analysing the folktales and proverbs, which I have collected from this region, is that people make fun of the political leaders and are dissatisfied with the state.

There are many marginalised communities dwelling here, Most Backward Castes (MBCs) and Schedules Castes (SCs). This area is inhabited by semi-nomadic communities such as Nats, Kapariyas, Banjaras, Khairwars, Kabutras; tribal communites like Sahariyas, Gonds and Kols; and other most marginal SC communities such as Khatiks, Mehtars, Noniyas, etc. This area is also home to MBC communities such as Darzis, Bhunjawas, Halwayis, Tamers, Chauhans, Pals, Nishads, Rajaks, Sens, Patwaris, Balmikis, Banskars, Baras, Raickwars, Dhimars, etc.What do these communities feel about election?

The Sahariya community is one of the most backward and marginalised of all in this region. For them, election is the time when netas come to ask for votes. Many don’t know after how many years, an election takes place. Many of them don’t even understand the difference between the governments in New Delhi and Lucknow. Some of them know Rahul Gandhi as the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. Two Indian leaders are etched in the memory of the Sahariya community: Gandhiji and Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi is still part of the memories of the old Sahariya women.

Kabootra is another most marginal small community known for making wine and selling the same in the rural area. They sell the alcohol in polythene packs at dirt cheap rates. They are tired of police atrocities but can’t escape their fate as their traditional occupation is winemaking. They want training and access to alternative livelihoods which can provide them with an opportunity to live with dignity and respect.

They see election as an opportunity to express their needs in front of the netas. For them, the Neta does not mean the person who is contesting Lok Sabha polls. It means the person who comes to appeal for votes. By talking to local leaders, they think that they have expressed their needs in front of the sarkar. Some time, the Gram Pradhan also appears as sarkar.

Nat is another semi-nomadic community which settled in some parts of Bundelkhand. They have their own traditional deity installed under the pipal tree. They worship their deity with rice and vermillion. They want a temple of their deity in this area. That’s their demand this election season. Kuchh Badhiya is another small community which makes rope from barks of trees and sell it for a living. It is their traditional occupation. Some of them I interviewed want the government to do something for the strengthening of their traditional livelihood. For them, it is more important than any new scheme.

Bansphor is another community which makes products out of bamboo and Mahua leaves. However, their traditional occupation is under attack from the plastic aggression. They want their Neta to support their traditional livelihood and ensure its revival. One youth from Bansphor community told me that “Hum construction labour nahi hona chahte, humme hunar hai, hum us hunar ko jilana chahte hai. (We don’t want to become construction labourers, we have our work and skills, we want to revive it).”

These smaller communities of the Bundelkhand region mostly relate to the politics of election based on their local requirements. For them, the sarkar needs to solve their problem. So they reminisce Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. When I remind them that these leaders are no more, they become sad and start looking towards the sky. For them, democracy means being free from police oppression and atrocities of the dominant castes.