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Publication: The Times Of India - Chennai; Date:2009 Apr 05; Section:All ThatMatters; Page Number 10

POLITICALLY INCORRECT

Meera Sanyal becomes thechange she w ants to seeSHOBHAA DE

To that tantalising question — ‘‘Who’s afraid of Meera Sanyal?’’ — thereis only one answer: nobody.

As of now, Meera Sanyal is an unknown entity. She does not belong toany political party or camp. She has not roped in a Bollywood star tocampaign for her. She is not the daughter or daughter-in-law of apowerful family. She does not possess crores and crores of ill-gottenwealth. There is no godfather or godmother lurking in the shadows toback her. And the biggest strike against her candidacy? She cannot boastof a criminal record. She has never been booked for murder or thepossession of guns. So, who the hell is she? And why has she decided tocontest the elections, that too from a high profile constituency (SouthMumbai)?

Meera Sanyal is like you and me. An educated professional with aconscience. Someone who wants to put her hard-earned money whereher mouth is. Someone who is willing to go beyond drawing room,armchair politics and say, ‘‘This is who i am. This is what i stand for. As acitizen of India, i am entitled to exercise my fundamental right to contestthe elections — and hello! I am doing just that... regardless of theoutcome.’’ Brave woman. Why brave? Meera is aware it’s a vicious jungleout there... and here she is, a prim and propah Malabar Hill memsaab,willing to get her hands dirty in a no-holds-barred contest where her

rivals have more money, more clout, more everything. Except the onething that counts or ought to — the right motive.

Why would someone as successful as Meera (she’s a well-regardedbanker) want to chuck up a super career and jump into the politicalcesspool? And what chance does she have of winning? The answer to thefirst question comes from Meera herself, who says it was the 26/11terror attacks on Mumbai that triggered something in her. Somethingcompelling enough to arrive at this important decision. It has become acliche to say, ‘Become the change you want to see..’ but in Meera’s case,it seems to be the only reason she has taken the plunge. Has shethought it through? Does she know what she has put her foot into? Letus give some credit to this intelligent person. And let us acknowledge the

obvious fact that Meera is now in the system for better or worse.As an independent candidate, she may not have the same advantagesas her mighty rivals. But as a banker, i’m sure she knows how to hedgeher bets. It is not about winning. It is about making a point. ‘People LikeUs’ are very comfortable with a Meera. She speaks English with the rightaccent, quotes Toffler, wears pearls and likes her tofu. ‘We’ arecomfortable with Meera. Our drawing rooms are always open to peoplelike her. But the harsh reality suggests ‘we’ no longer count. Nobodyreally gives a damn for ‘us’. Which makes Meera’s decision all the morepraiseworthy. Her supporters (steadily growing), point out that unless

‘People Like Us’ get into politics, India is doomed. It is one way of consoling ourselves, knowing full well the mood of the nation haschanged.

Meera is earnestly talking about public transport and security issues, ina city that is taken over by vested interests and distant bhais who callthe shots. Meera will have to wade into South Mumbai’s filthy shanty

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towns and convince those vote-fornote fellows that she’s their woman. Of course, she’ll have to lose those pearls first. And switch to earthy,homespun salwar kameezes before that. But how on earth will shecommunicate her objectives to a constituency that has been spoilt andnurtured over decades by politicos with pockets as deep as the ocean?

Meera wants to be taken seriously. She deserves to be taken seriously.Meera is an important symbol. And an agent of change. The change we

keep talking about. We should not hold her independent status againsther. Remember V K Krishna Menon had stood as an independent, too. If more Meeras decide to get involved in the political process, their voiceswill be heard. Eventually. Her entry heralds a small but significantbeginning. Will Meera be casting pearls before swine? Maybe. But theeffort is worth it.

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