Chandrashekhar is Like Ambedkar for Us: ‘Bachha’ Bhim Army

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam

Have you heard of Kanshi Ram?

“Yes. He’s our hero. He fought for the rights of Dalits. He founded the Bahujan Samaj Party. He took the mission of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar forward and taught us to live by his values. Due to his support, Mayawati became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh four times. You are talking to me today because of him, otherwise our voice would have been suppressed long back.”

All of this was said in one breath by 17-year-old Rahul. While he was speaking rapidly, I threw a breaker in the form of another question. Do you know Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’? The response was immediate – “he’s our brother.”

“He is our messiah. He is like god to us. For us, bhai Chandrashekhar is just like Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar.”

Rahul

Kanshi Ram’s 12th Death Anniversary

Kanshi Ram’s 12th death anniversary fell on 9 October 2018. When Rahul was asked about Kanshi Ram’s death anniversary, he said he forgot the date. But he immediately changed his response, saying that the day had passed recently. He had seen it on television but couldn’t remember when.

Rahul is presently studying in Saharanpur’s Janta Inter-College. The eldest of four brothers and sisters, he is a fan of the Bhim Army and Chandrashekhar. He considers himself a member of the Bhim Army.

Mayawati Should Be PM, Bahujans in Power

Lakhnaur village lies between Deoband and Saharanpur. There is a temple dedicated to Sant Ravidas here. On the temple grounds, Rahul and some children from the area are enthusiastically shouting slogans of ‘Jai Bhim’. On one side where 28-year-old Chandrashekhar is calling Mayawati his aunt, 17-year-old Rahul is not shying away from calling Mayawati ‘Behenji’. When we asked Rahul about Mayawati, he said “We are with her. We want a BSP government in 2019.”

Who Will They Support Between Mayawati And Chandrashekhar?

When he spoke to The Quint after his release from jail, Chandrashekhar had called Mayawati his ‘bua’ (aunt).

Mayawati held a press conference and without mentioning Chandrashekhar’s name, said that she wasn’t anyone’s aunt. She said some people were mentioning her name only for profit.

We asked Rahul if Mayawati and Chandrashekhar don’t come together and Chandrashekhar fights the elections alone, who he will support.

Rahul said, “Firstly, Chandrashekhar won’t contest elections. He is the messiah of the Bahujans, the Dalits. If he does fight the elections, we will support him. Mayawati will come later. If Chandrashekhar considers Mayawati his aunt and Mayawati is welcoming him, then we will support both. Otherwise we will support Chandrashekhar.”