In the introduction to the autobiography of Lalu Prasad Yadav, there are two literary references: Tulsidas’s Ramacharitmanas and the work of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The first is to demonstrate how the so-called sacred texts of Hinduism denigrate the oppressed castes and women whereas Faiz makes an appearance in the title of the chapter itself through his verse: woh shaan salamaat rehti hai (that dignity [with which one approaches adversity] lives on). These two references in a way capture the essence of Lalu Prasad’s politics over the last 30 years. He has communicated to his intended audience about caste and dignity/self-respect as no other political leader from the backward classes in the last few decades. That too, in Bihar where feudalism in its worst form continues to exist and, to some extent, prosper even in the 21st century.

An Important Biography