Vari Klair – My Fellow BootanMandian
-RAMESH CHANDER
(SAMAJ WEEKLY)- I wrote about many of my fellow BootanMandians in my blogs and recently released my book – Bootan Mandi: Nerve Centre of Dalit Chetna. Varun Klair (popularly known as Vari) who also found a mention in book is currently in the news because of his political aspirations as an independent candidate in the bye-election of the Jalandhar West constituency scheduled to be held on July 10.
As apolitical community activist and observer, I thought of writing about Vari as one of my fellow BootanMandians. Vari Klair is a politically and socially alive person as one of the scions of the extended first family of Seth Kishan Dass of Bootan Mandi. It seems Vari Klair is a maverick in the emerging political scenario, if I go by the social media. On the other side, Vari is fully viral and vocal about his strong and unwavering faith and allegiance to Babasaheb Ambedkar and Babu Kanshi Ram and rightly so to carry forward the mission of these icons of the community and the society at large. We all know that these days ‘money and muscle’ is a much needed asset in the elections. I don’t know whether Vari can afford that. Vari has been a fire-brand community activist; I have observed this over the last decade or so. I saw him agitating for the Ambedkar College in Bootan Mandi. He fought for the post-matric scholarships and degrees of dalit students not only in Jalandhar but beyond too. He has been on the lead for opposing atrocities on dalits and standing for the community issues like Guru Ravidass Tughlakabad issue among others. I only hope he is able to send his point home in Bootan Mandi, the flag bearer of dalit chetna in the region and his native place. Will he fit into the big shoes of Seth Kishan Dass, Avinash Chander and hold the flag of Bootan Mandi high as expected and desired? It is a question, we BootanMandians need to consider and answer. Many of his seniors from Bootan Mandi in the past entered the electoral fray; Kartara Ram Madhas in the first election in 1952 in the ticket of All India Scheduled Caste Federation, Hardev Kaur Shant on the bandwagon of BSP, Seth Sat Paul on the Akali Dal ticket, Surinder Mahey as BJP’s face. BootanMandians are a divided lot,
one may observe from these details. Vari has thrown his hat in the ring as an Independent; a difficult feat in the given political scenario. It seems he intends to make history like Chander shekhar Azad. I recognize and appreciate his political acumen.
Though all the major candidates; Sheetal Angural of BJP, Mohinder Bhagat of AAP, Surinder Kaur of Congress Party are well known to me as politicians and community activists of standing yet I thought of writing about Vari Klair, a young new entrant into the electoral politics. I consider political veteran Surinder Kaur also as a fellow BootanMandian who did well in public life. I take this opportunity to wish all the best wishes to all of my friends in the fray. Will Vari Klair be able to uphold the BootanMandian pride as the nerve center of dalit awakening? Will he succeed in redeeming the glory of Bootan Mandi?
अपना मुकद्दर आप बनाते हैं एहले दिल
हम वो नहीं जिन्हे जमाना बना गया
