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Lower-Caste Politician A Lofty Symbol in India
"Slowly things are changing," says Mayawati, a Dalit, or untouchable.
(Photo By Emily Wax/twp - The Washington Post)
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Kneeling over a soapy bucket to wash the lunch dishes, Shakuntala said she admires Mayawati for her largess.
"She should have those things, which we all want," Shakuntala said, trudging off to get more water.
Treating the Patient
Mayawati lives in a salmon-colored mansion, and on a recent day she wore socks with sandals, a simple cotton Indian pantsuit and a diamond ring.
She was confident and relaxed, a posture that may reflect her party's new national prominence. In her drawing room, images of Dalit leaders adorn the walls, along with two busts of Buddha. Mayawati converted to Buddhism from Hinduism, which sanctions the caste system.
In state elections last year, Mayawati drew into her party Brahmins, India's highest caste of priests and intellectuals. With the ruling coalition fraying over a controversial nuclear deal with the United States, she now appears to be courting Muslims and communists as well.
"An intelligent doctor would treat the disease step by step. What we are doing is step by step. I understand that for centuries people fought, so it's not easy to bring them together," Mayawati said. "We have done that in U.P."
Asked whether she wanted to become prime minister of India, she seemed to demur: "I don't indulge in self-praise, I'll become this or that. It all depends on the people. I believe in doing rather than saying."
Still, she is clear about her determination to expand her party's national footprint. She said she is so focused on her political career that she has no time for romantic relationships, movies, even extended family.
"That's why I am unmarried," she said. "I don't even keep my parents here."
'An Icon for Untouchables'
In her village about 250 miles east of Lucknow, Shakuntala attends a government school. Her teachers sometimes fail to show up for work, a widespread problem across India.
Shakuntala wants to learn English, but her father is disabled and unemployed. He can't afford to send her to private schools, which teach English and afford wealthy Indians access to higher-paid jobs.
When pressed about her ultimate dream, Shakuntala disclosed that she would like to become a schoolteacher, like Mayawati. Her eyes are weak and slightly crossed, however, making it difficult for her to read.
