Guyana President gives them identity

From Subodh Gildiyal
Deccan News Service SHAHUJI MAHARAJ NAGAR (AMETHI), Aug 24

Poor by fortune and backward by caste, the Lonia community of Thakurayin Purwa found an identity today. When the President of Guyana Bharat Jagdev came calling, they were introduced as relatives of the head of a nation. The poor, illiterate and ignored were cynosures of all eyes which poured in from nearby villages to witness the event.

An event where the state worked overtime to hide the truth and politicians to hijack the moment. A young man whose grand-father migrated to the Caribbean island of Guyana in 1912 came back tracing the map to see the place where it all began.

It was a contrast overnight with repair of mud-roads and cleaning of village could not hide. And yet, none cared to notice the starkness of it all. When Jagdev was introduced to the Pradhan of his ancestral village Mohammed Ishaq, he embraced him with all his strength. A village wisehead remarked, "The man at the bottom of Indian polity is hugging a person commanding the destiny of his country."

Ishaq was moved to tears and could barely utter a word. Jagdev was ushered into the huge pandal erected to avoid the leaking mud-houses. At an indication, he sat on the floor to listen to the oldest member of the Lonias. Ram Dulari, 95, who was hardly audible. "I am overwhelmed... It is an emotional moment for me... I am proud of the village," Mr Jagdev said with a gulp in throat. But he was praised for the courage of his grand-father "who took the plunge into the unknown and came up trumps".

Emotions overflowed. And with it the contrast. "Take us all with you," pleaded a frail Ram Dulari. Captain Satish Sharma, representing the local MP Sonia Gandhi, assured of all help to "improve the lot of President's relatives". The old woman expressed happiness that "one of them" had reached so far in distance and destiny, and hoped it will prove a watershed in their age-old existence on the margins.

The President said he had plans for his village and will discuss them with the administration. Fed on assurances for years, for once, the words did not appear empty to these under-privileged. "I am sure he will do something," remarked Shiv Prasad, one of the 24 families of poor labourers. Raja Ram was thrilled. “Our rulers don't even look to us. Is it not remarkable that President has taken his time out to trace us and pay a visit?� For him, the visit itself was worth everything. President's entourage comprised two members with similar history of uprooted families.