What else you have tried to explore in your book?
She has great regard for her grandfather who was an enlightened man. He was a soldier in the British army who went abroad to fight. When his wife died, he refused to remarry. Since her father did not have any son, only daughters, his friends asked him to remarry. But Mayawati's grandfather put his foot down and said, 'What nonsense, we will educate our daughters. They are as good as sons.' She was his favourite.
I have gone into her relation with Kanshi Ram. I have a photograph which shows Kanshi Ram giving a bouquet of flowers and the intensity in their eyes tells a story. You will understand how much they felt for each other. It was a strong and close relationship.
I don't know if it was an emotional relation or not, but, it was much more than that. The way she looked after him and nursed him after he suffered a stroke is amazing. People and relatives who accused her were just jealous. Without Kanshi Ram she would have never attained these heights. Both of them have flourished because their opponents lacked confidence. Mayawati never loses her nerve.
How would you compare Mayawati with Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi?
Unless Rahul Gandhi comes with a completely new set of ideas, he will not be able to challenge Mayawati. I don't see Rahul's Congress as a major force. It's a party with old ideas.
Modi is a much more potent force, he thinks out of the box. He knows in which direction India is moving. But he is in a small state and lacks a captive constituency like the Dalits. He has a handicap that he is facing relentless hostility from the Muslims. Mayawati is the number one new force.
Image: Mayawati with Kanshi Ram. Photograph courtesy: Behenji - A Political Biography Of Mayawati
Also read: Mayawati will settle for deputy prime minister
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