What is an engineer who has collaborated with Nasa on the Mars Rover project, and done his MS in nanotechnology in the US, doing in dusty Buldhana’s zilla parishad elections? Fighting for progress and to make a difference, says Balasaheb Darade, 28, as he speaks to Sunil Warrier and Ranjit Deshmukh after his recent win in the polls
There’s a buzz that you worked in Nasa on the Mars Rover project and, much like Shahrukh Khan in ‘Swades’, made a grand return to India?
• While in my first year engineering, I read on the Net about Nasa encountering problems. I offered my suggestions via email. They sent me a participation certificate and invited me to the US. I, in turn, invited them to India and a team from Harvard University and Nasa worked at the Lonar crater site. I got to visit Nasa in 2005 and would have had to become a US citizen to work there. But I was always keen on working in India and, hence, preferred to do my MS in nanotechnology and entrepreneurship from Cincinnati University.
How did the final shift from US to Buldhana occur?
•Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption caught my interest in December 2010. In April 2011, when he sat on a hunger strike, I set up an India Against Corruption group in Cincinnati. I interacted with Arvind Kejriwal a few times and also had video conferencing with Annaji. Change was in the air and I finally returned to participate in the IAC agitation in August last year. My target was rural development and I had begun interacting with villagers during my visits earlier. A chat with Sri Sri Ravishankar also helped to finalise the decision.
So you set up the Shankara Rural Project.
• Shankara means transformation. People in villages have huge problems and they know the best solution, too. But they lack leadership and direction. I have studied several model villages under Art of Living and visited a few under the European Union. Shankara is not an NGO; it’s a project that NGOs can support. I would describe it in three steps: technical model with developmental parameters; creating leadership and giving direction; creating an open platform for government, NGOs and whoever is interested to collaborate.
When did you decide to contest the zilla parishad elections, and why? Was there opposition in your family?
• It was January first or second week when the dates were announced. I had wanted to become an MLA or MP. The MLA’s seat is a reserved one so that was out. Zilla parishad also gave me the opportunity to work on rural development -- it is not contested by educated people so I wanted to set an example. There was opposition borne out of love, and plenty of suggestions.
Why do you think people voted for you?
• Anti-incumbency was one. Second,
most of the other contestants were first time candidates. It was evident people wanted change with ideology, not just new faces in the old party. I never prepared a speech, only held discussions with the people. I never made any promises. They also realized that had I not wanted to serve them I would have gone back to the US.
The cup and saucer was your symbol. How did you inform them about your ideology?
•My father’s clean image helped me. I was full of ideas and my body language was positive. My friends started supporting me and then the numbers just grew. Some family members of my rival, too, voted for me. Some of the key men are former Sena activists. My slogan ‘Ata badal nischit’ (Now change is certain) went down well. I was giving them a clean leader. I never asked for votes; I only asked them to vote for the right candidate who will ring in some changes. I didn’t even criticize my opponents.
Didn’t people ask for money and liquor?
• A few did. But I would invite them for lunch or dinner. When agents came offering 300 votes, I would tell them to bring 200 people in front of me. I would tell people to ask for diamonds, education and employment opportunities and a future for the kids. People are trained to take liquor and money due to the inefficiencies of politicians in communicating their ideas. Seeing my approach, some of my rivals also didn’t offer money and liquor (to voters). I think I have managed to set an example.
Are you eyeing the Lok Sabha in 2014?
• The Buldhana Muslim Group was the first to moot the idea and now my voters, too, are talking about it. I don’t want it (LS) to go into people’s minds. My focus is on development and not Lok Sabha.
Can you be termed a politician?
• If Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Mahatma Gandhi, Shivaji Maharaj are politicians, I
want to be known as one, too. I would like
to be known as the one who wants to
bring a smile on the faces of the poor
and the rich.
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