Mayawati's return to power triggers hope among idol-makers

Varanasi, May 13 (UNI) A BSP government led by party chief Mayawati ascending to power in Uttar Pradesh for the fourth time today not only triggered celebrations among the party members here, but has also brought back smiles to the dejected faces of idol-making families on the outskirts of the holy city.

The idol-makers living in makeshift hutments dotting the Varanasi-Allahabad road near Lehertara have a reason to smile on the back of expectations of sudden spurt in demand for statues of dalit icon Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, following the BSP government's ascendency to power in the state with a clear majority.

''The stones from Ahrauara area of neighbouring Mirzapur district till now shaped into statues of Hindu gods and goddesses, besides national leaders like Mahatama Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose may be up more for being chiselled into the statues of Dr Ambedkar,'' Vishwanath an idol-maker hailing from Barabanki district told UNI here today.

Concurring with his standpoint, another idol-maker Banarasi said during the past regimes in UP headed by Ms Mayawati, there was a huge rush for Dr Ambedkar's statues stemming directly from customers in villages as-well-as from statue dealers whose showrooms are located in the city.

Sensing a BSP government in the offing villagers from Varanasi as well as neighbouring Mirzapur, Chandauli and Bhadohi districts purchased as many as 35 Ambedkar statues in two days only to mark the birth anniversary of the dalit icon on April 14 last, he added.

''We expect this trend to continue for long with the BSP now in power with clear majority and have hence started fashioning blue-coloured idols of Dr Ambedkar holding the Indian constitution in his hand. We hope that the statue's index finger again points towards prosperity in our lives as in past,'' Vishwanath said.

Majority of idol-makers, despite, being optimistic about a spurt in demand for Ambedkar statues claimed it were the idols of Lord Hanuman and not the stone statues of Dr Ambedkar that provided sucour to the families.

''Statue of Lord Hanuman is our best-seller for all seasons, whereas, Ambedkar statues are only in demand during the BSP regime,'' Vishwanath added.

UNI