Date:15/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/15/stories/2007061510431200.htm

National

Win-win situation, say Rajasthanis

Sunny Sebastian

JAIPUR : The nomination of Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as the ruling United Progressive Alliance's Presidential candidate came as a surprise to most Rajasthanis, who were till then preoccupied with the candidature of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Apart from being the Governor of the State, Ms.Patil has a strong Rajasthani connection — her husband Devi Singh Shekhawat's family hails from Sikar district in the Shekhawati region of the State.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat too hails from Sikar district. His family has its origins in Kachariawas village, in the district's Datta Ramgarh tehsil. Prof. Devi Singh Shekhawat's former `tikhana,' Choti Losal, in Sikar tehsil of the district, is hardly 40 kms away.

Till the black horse in the race emerged on Thursday evening, the average Rajasthani was rooting for its son of the soil. Local newspapers carried stories about ``Babosa'' (a term in Marwari for addressing a respected elder) repeating his feat during the election of the Vice-President a few years back, when he won many more votes than the political share of the supporting parties.

Now the mood has changed visibly in Rajasthan and among the Kshatriya community across the country.

Prof. Shekhawat's immediate family had migrated to Jalgaon in Maharashtra some 70 years back, but they always maintained their ties with the picturesque sun-tanned village in Shekhawati.

``It is a matter of great happiness for the village. Madam Patil had been to the nearby Bari Losal village two times prior to taking oath as Rajasthan Governor. Recently, in Choti Losal, she got a `yagna' conducted at the Karni Mata temple. Lunch was served to the gathering on her behalf and Rs.1 lakh was donated to the temple,'' Bhagirath Singh Rathore, ex-subedar, told The Hindu from the village.

Mr.Rathore, husband of Prem Kanwar, sarpanch of the village and related to the in laws of Ms.Patil, was sure thatthe development would trigger celebrations in Shekhawati for many days to come.

``The news is yet to sink in, but already there is already a lot of excitement,'' Chiranjilal Maharia, electrical engineer-turned-entrepreneur, said over phone from Sikar district town.

``Till now Sikar's claim to glory had been the Vice-President who made it good from an ordinary Rajput family and Devi Lal who became the Deputy Prime Minister and represented Sikar in the Lok Sabha,'' he said.

``Now it is between the `beta' (son) and `bahu' (daughter in law) of Shekhawati. It is a win-win situation or as they say in Marwari, `Donon hathon mein laddu hain' (Having sweetmeat in both the hands).