If you think all of Kangana Ranaut’s recent tirades are a good launch pad for a successful political career, think again. The Bollywood actor may have played the role of Rani of Jhansi in Manikarnika with a sharp nationalist ferocity, but she forgot one key lesson from the movie – you have to have a Jhalkari Bai by your side if you want to win any battle. But upper caste Kangana Ranaut committed what is widely regarded as a cardinal sin in Indian politics. She spoke against the constitutionally guaranteed policy of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs. Even RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had to take back his statement on the need for a review of reservation policy.
Had Kangana grasped the essence of her movie Manikarnika, she would have acted differently in her real life.
At this crucial juncture, when a part of her office has been demolished by the Uddhav Thackeray government, and Mumbai police is set to probe her alleged drug links, she needs not only widespread political support but also the support of a large Bahujan majority on the ground. It may appear as if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fully backing her now – giving her Y-plus security cover, deploying Sambit Patra to her defence, and have Devendra Fadnavis target the Shiv Sena government over the demolition issue – but her anti-reservation utterances will be the biggest roadblock for a political career.
Kangana might be happy seeing the hashtags in her support trending on social media, but at the end of the day, her office stands broken. The only seemingly significant support she got were from Union minister and Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Ramdas Athawale and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MP Chirag Paswan.
Kangana must only rewatch Manikarnika to know where she went wrong. Especially the five-minute role of one of the commanders of the army of Jhansi, Jhalkari Bai, played by Ankita Lokhande. Incidentally, Kangana has named her Bandra Pali Hill office ‘Manikarnika’.
Also read: Kangana Ranaut’s Twitter timeline is Manorama yearbook, Jhansi ki Rani edition
Who was Jhalkari Bai
Manikarnika, popularly known as the Rani of Jhansi, did not fight her last battle inside Jhansi fort. To save her adopted son Damodar Rao, who was also the heir to the throne of Jhansi, she had to abandon the fort. In the battle of Jhansi, one of the most celebrated of the colonial period, the Jhansi army was led by Jhalkari Bai Kori, her husband Puran Kori, and Gaus Khan.
The Uttar Pradesh government describes Jhalkari Bai and Gaus Khan on its website as the leaders of the battle of Jhansi. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had issued a postage stamp to celebrate the valour of Jhalkari Bai. The citation goes on to narrate her loyalty, courage and fighting prowess. NCERT’s Hindi textbook for Class 6 has an entire chapter depicting the bravery of Jhalkari Bai. In 2017, President Ram Nath Kovind, who belongs to the same Dalit Kori caste, unveiled her statue in Bhopal.
राष्ट्रपति श्री रामनाथ कोविंद ने भोपाल में रानी लक्ष्मी बाई की सहयोगी झलकारी बाई की प्रतिमा का अनावरण किया। इस अवसर पर राज्यपाल श्री ओम प्रकाश कोहली एवं मुख्यमंत्री @ChouhanShivraj एवं अन्य जन प्रतिनिधि उपस्थित थे। pic.twitter.com/cxBIssyruP
— CMO Madhya Pradesh (@CMMadhyaPradesh) November 10, 2017
It tells us that Manikarnika or the Rani of Jhansi built the largest possible coalition of social and religious sections and her commanders were employed from every section of the society. That must have been a revolutionary act on the part of the Rani of Jhansi since, according to the diktats of the Hindu shastras, Dalits were not supposed to carry arms.
Also read: Kangana Ranaut drew attention with her unsolicited tirades. Now the taxpayer will foot security bill
Kangana, Manikarnika by name
Just compare the act of Manikarnika with Kangana’s rant against the constitutional provisions of reservation, and you can easily understand why she is not getting any support from a large section of the society or, for that matter, any prominent BJP leader — except the party’s IT cell.
Her outburst against reservation was uncalled for. Reacting to a tweet on a book by Pulitzer-winning author Isabel Wilkerson, which draws parallels between India’s caste-based discrimination and racism in the US, Kangana wrote a series of tweets rejecting caste and making unsubstantiated claims about the quota system, stirring huge controversy.
Especially in professions like Doctors engineers, pilots most deserving people suffer reservations, we as a nation suffer mediocrity and brilliance finds a reluctant escape to The United States.. Shame
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 23, 2020
It is difficult to know what agitated her. It could have been the title of the book — Caste: The Origins of our Discontents — or the common upper caste angst against the quota system or just an opportunity to create another controversy and stay in media glare. The end result is that Kangana alienated herself from the SC/ST/OBCs, who constitute the majority of Indian population.
Cast system has been rejected by modern Indians, in small towns every one knows it’s not acceptable anymore by law and order its nothing more than a sadistic pleasure for few, only our constitution is holding on to it in terms of reservations, Let Go Of It, Lets Talk About It ?
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 23, 2020
Also read: Kangana Ranaut isn’t casteless. Her elders passed on an invisible code to her
BJP’s political distancing
Soon after her reservation rant, Kangana started firing salvos against the Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government. It was bad timing. Just before the beginning of the battle, she had lost the support of ‘Jhalkari Bai’. And then, in her typical, exaggerated style, she compared herself with Kashmiri Pandits, drawing parallels between the partial demolition of her illegal structure in Mumbai with the exodus of Pandits from the Valley, saying she “now understands” their pain. She has been called out by people on social media, including by Kashmiri Pandits.
The BJP might find her tirades against the Thackeray government, and especially against the Shiv Sena, suitable to its scheme, but it knows full well that the reservation issue can subvert all its political calculations. This makes the party wary of going the whole hog in supporting Kangana. The BJP IT cell will support her — the anonymity and vitriol makes it easier for the party to distance itself from the group’s actions — and peripheral members like Sambit Patra will utter soothing statements now and then in her defence. Even offers to join BJP, such as one from the party’s Himachal Pradesh chief to her mother Asha Ranaut, will likely go to family members or those close to her.
But no big leader of any consequence will support Kangana Ranaut, because she has created an anti-reservationist image for herself and will now be forced to do balancing acts like invoking B.R. Ambedkar here and there.
Dear respected honourable @INCIndia president Sonia Gandhi ji being a woman arn’t you anguished by the treatment I am given by your government in Maharashtra? Can you not request your Government to uphold the principles of the Constitution given to us by Dr. Ambedkar?
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 11, 2020
The BJP certainly won’t throw its full might behind her with the Bihar assembly election just a few weeks away. The party won’t easily forget how a stray statement from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on reservation had cost it the assembly election in 2015 — at least until it returned to govern the state in coalition with turncoat Nitish Kumar and the Janata Dal (United) two years later.
For Kangana, the question of reservation will keep haunting her at every step of her political journey — if she chooses one. Because this Manikarnika, without the support of India’s millions of Jhalkari Bais, is just an ordinary actress.
Dilip Mandal is the former managing editor of India Today Hindi Magazine, and has authored books on media and sociology. Views are personal.
Now the left and left leaning publications are worried sick about Kangana. Where is the left leader Mr. Yechury? He does not even get a press like Kangana. Even The Print is ignoring him. May be he does not sell in modern India with or without caste system.
Dear Dilip Sir,
As Kangana is exposed as castiest, since then your Twitter ID is deleted by Castiest Twitter and It seems we also don’t have any representation on Twitter too. There a lot of fake IDs are created by the BJP IT cell. How you are going to be back at Twitter?which is your real ID?Are u active on Twitter?Are u active on which social media platforms? How we can see and listen you everyday & where?
Yo Bhimte, why don’t you Dalits create a social media ecosystem exclusively for Dalits? Since you people never stop complaining maybe you should build one yourself. And please don’t drag us OBCs with you, we are done with your kind in UP itself.
The Print media has sold to Bollywood mafia that’s why talking nonsense about kangana….Kangana doesn’t need a support of hight society class or any Bollywood mafia or any double standard people because she has our support, support of common people, Kangana always speaks about the truth, she never got anyone’s support in Bollywood but still she has a guts to stand her own and to talk about the bitter reality of Bollywood which she have been through and ofcourse many have been through the same as Kangana but no one dare to speak about it But Kangana did and it’s indeed become a history that at least one girl from small town to Bollywood have stand against the bitter reality of the Bollywood so that in future every talented artist in Bollywood will get equal rights and equal treatment.
Here for comments not news
Paid media murdabad!
For clarity, Kangana do not seem to have said (by your own article) not to include any backward group. The point is about meritocracy. Point to be noted is Jhalakari Bais became what she was based on her merit, not just because she belonged to a particular caste – glowing example of meritocracy at its purest. And that’s what exactly Kanagana is advocating here. I see this article as an attempt to confuse readers by mixing facts, comparing apple with lemon, and putting their own spin on a straightforward comment. Also, am I the only one to notice a hint of sadistic satisfaction in mentioning how Kangana’s office remains broken even though she is popular in social media??!!
The most important point here is that Kangna is praising Balasaheb who is responsible for the death of 1000 people in mumbai riots …that says it all …it’s not about right or wrong it’s all about might …Kangna has learner it the hard way and she is ready to sell her soul for it …
Have some shame “The Print” creating fake news and opinions about a women who went through so much just because she spoke out. Think about the Karma your organization is gaining. Riding on the back of Kangana and ridiculing her and making unnecessary negative opinions about her
Print is biased against Modi govt and any comment criticising Modi opponent are supported by this so called journalists. Most People always stand with right and this time Kangana is right. Sena is not doing impartial job.
Ask for OTP verification of commenters and see them disappear.
Ppl fighting against reservation, atleast learn to write..
I know ‘the print’ is crap…i came only to read the comments which are actual opinion.
Print hatred of Kangana Ranaut knows no bound.
She is a strong character in reel and real life.
What level of cheapness is this? The constitution and then the reservation policy went above and beyond to ensure 50 percent reservation in a country where most of the jatis (not all) were at some point ruling and/or successful. We have no way of cutting down on reservations now. Generations have benefitted from this policy and it applies on various levels- exams cut offs, tution and hostel fees, jobs and even promotions.
It totally does lead to mediocrity. And this is your level of discourse? Is this even an educated stand?
Shitty article. Its your own opinion that country is not with Kangana. Caste based reservation needs to go. It will some day. People need to start running without crutches now.
The jhand !!!
Kitna hge ho bhAi.???
Print your doing a great job. Haters gonna hate because they don’t know real situation of our country. Print you are better than the fake and Hippocratic news channels. Keep it up.
Stupid article. Reservation creates ENTITLED PARASITISM and MEDIOCRACY. Stop being SELFISH PARASITES who wants to hog the jobs and keep the country backward, at best what you could ask for is FREE EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIPS and nothign more. Reservation enhances CASTEISM AND DIVISIVENESS< those who support n demand and avail reservatipn are CASTISTS DIVISIVE and eneies of integration of India, Even Ambedkar did not want this CANCER of reservation more than 10 years. STOP BEING PARASITES and stop writing RUBBISH.
Reservation is not the cancer for India.
It is the caste system that was practiced for 2000 years which kept majority of the people as backward and divided Hindu society as unequals before God.
Do you have any data or evidence to prove that India is mediocre because of reservations? It is only a narrative.
Whereas historical records show clearly India for 2000 years , had so many poor and backward people – the upper castes were in control then and they were the only ones who were literate, right? . Contrast with Europe which progressed so fast after 16th century due to Renaissance and scientific/industrial revolutions and they did not have a caste system. And they created a classless society .
Your article is in poor taste and distorts facts. Nowhere has she said that she supports Caste Oppression. She says that Caste system has failed. It is a reality. Otherwise Ramdas Athavale wouldn’t have met her. She has rightly criticised reservation politics leading to Brain drain in technical professions. This needs to be dealt as socially relevant issue to value merit too than just reservation led politics.
If your opinion is correct , then how Ramdas Athavale supported Kangana?
So the opinion category is basically an excuse to talk shit about a person you clearly dislike. Pathetic.
Exactly. These journlists use this option just to write their own shitty opinion and don’t reflect public opinion.
Aur Chalo propoaganda …apni hi fazihat karoge..Print walo u would be failed to get support after writing such negative stuff . End result is thst you guys only get exposed about your biased openions and spreading negativity.
Which is this “”Print”” news agency who runs this bullshit news agency.. this print news is always anti-social, anti-national, condemnable……stop this Print news agency for being antinational
Just look at your comment section….your analysis is total bullshit, you haven’t noticed, but now she’s all set to “establish” Bollywood’s biggest production house
Print – If you have read the comments here, you know who stands wrong here. Literally smiled about you claiming yourself “honest media” Lolz. Get into some other thing you are not good at it guys.
As usual Print plays the role of the Imperialism by talking up all divisive ideas. Cummunism is a failed defunct ideology, and like them you are constantly playing and singing nciting others to play tu victim card. In most of Urban India and even Rural areas ,caste is not a major topic at all. For Congress and CPIM it is.
Today it is not a big issue in India. It is actually reverse prejudice actually, against anybody not from so called lower castes. Instead of helping to annihilate caste, you and your acolytes are perpetuating caste divisions by constantly demonising it. Lower caste have got overseas are education , working in US also are being incited to play the victim card and entitlement politics. You do not see the fact the positive in the fact they got to US and got appointed.
India is seeing through the ruse you are playing. Forever inciting divisions, and hate instead of brotherhood and love is you.
Stupid article and only stupid quota system supporters can write such a crap.
Dear writer of the article,
Would you go to a doctor who got a seat due to reservation or would you prefer the one who is a doctor by merit?
You must speak the truth, even if nobody speaks it. But guess, the writer of this pointless, piece of trash article does not understand this. Reservation is a menace for India. It will continue to be, as long as it is based on caste system, as long as there is no economic scale that decides who get it and who don’t, as long as it is not merit.
India is with Kangana. The print has been shamefully on offense against her.