varnam

It is said that life is tough for a Dalit in India and atrocities committed on Dalits are given prominence in the media except when the atrocities are committed by Dalits themselves. Still there is no denying that they are abused simply because of their caste. In such an environment when someone and that too a woman breaks ranks and achieves unimaginable wealth, it has to become a case study.

Her father was a clerk in the Telecommunications department in Delhi and mother a house wife. She was a teacher and then she joined politics. The latest statement filed by Mayavati gives an indication why a career in politics is always better than the Resident Idiot's whipping boy, the IT sector.

UP chief minister Mayawati has assets worth over Rs 52 crore, according to an affidavit filed on Monday by her along with the nomination papers for the Vidhan Parishad. And to add glitter to her wealth, the lady has diamonds worth nearly Rs 50 lakh.

The CM’s assets, including movable and immovable property, bank balance are:

Cash: Rs 50.27 lakh; Deposits in banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies: Rs 12.88 lakh; jewellery: Rs 50.87 lakh;diamonds 380.17 carat: Rs 49.75 lakh; a 18.5-kg silver dinner set costing Rs 1.12 lakh.

Among her other assets, the CM has murals worth Rs 15 lakh.

Behenji, as she likes to be called, lists the following commercial and residential establishments as her own in New Delhi and Lucknow. She owns two commercial establishments in Connaught Place, New Delhi, priced at Rs 2.05 crore and Rs 1.27 crore and another commercial establishment at Okhla which is priced at Rs 15.50 crore. [Mayawati reveals assets: Rs 52 crore]

How she earned so much money would bring tears to the eyes of even politicians. Naive BSP workers, assuming that the leader did not have any money sent her money and asked her to use it for whatever purpose she seemed fit, like buying bungalows or jewellery. Really! That feeling of happiness knowing that the leader is eating in a dinner set costing Rs. 1.12 lakhs while you are struggling to make a living is called, and let me use a technical term here, nirvana.

The view is best summed up by Columnist Chandrabhan Prasad who says that the ordinary Dalit would feel happy that at least one of them is doing well.  Mayavati is an inspiration not only for Dalits, but for all of us.