Interview

Women firm and objective : Kiran Maheshwari

Mrs Kiran Maheshwari is a vivacious and vocal BJP MP who in her young age has achieved a lot. Coming off a well-off family, born in Udaipur Rajasthan, she was educated in Mumbai from where she did her graduation in Commerce from Mumbai University and diploma in catering and IT. With painting and cooking as her hobbies, she continues to be a woman of the masses. Inspired into joining politics by Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia's "commitment, simple life and noble thinking", she made a humble beginning in the service of the party from her village and ultimately earned name and fame to win the confidence of the people to get elected as a Member of Parliament in her very first attempt. She feels that women representatives whether in panchayats or urban local bodies "by and large have done great justice to their responsibilities" and "many of them have left a lasting impression". BJP TODAY spoke to Smt. Kiran Maheshwari to elicit more information about her and her views on various issues. Excerpts.

How and when did you think of joining politics and why?

In my childhood, I was active in students' cultural group. After marriage, my spouse joined a company in Kota District. At that time, VHP was spreading Ram Janmbhumi Andolan. I also joined it. In 1987, we came to Kankroli. Here also I actively worked with Durga Vahini and VHP. In 1989 general elections, I actively campaigned for BJP and mobilised a good number of women activist for this purpose. This was first time that women had openly campaigned for BJP in an organised way. I visited almost all the panchayats in this election. A public meeting was organised in my in-laws' village, Ghosunda in Chittorgarh District. That day, I just happned to be there. The Maharani of Mewar was to address it. The BJP leaders of the village came and requested me to convene the meeting, as Mahariniji told that only women were to be there in the meeting. It was the first time that I addressed a very large public meeting. Although only women were supposed to participate in the meeting yet later on all the villagers joined it. I conducted the meeting and everyone appreciated the way I did it. In this election, BJP won the seat with a respectable margin. The BJP leadership asked me to look after Mahila Morcha. I also realised that by being active in politics, I can better serve the cause of nationalism and woman empowerment.

Then why did you prefer BJP over all other political parties?

My father was an active swayamsevak of RSS. My in-laws were also actively working in RSS programmes. Therefore, since childhood I had been groomed into the philosophy of nationalism, Hindutva and our great cultural heritage. I was deeply inspired by the life and ideology of RSS and BJP leaders. I found that BJP is the only party which advocates nationalism and a strong Bharat free of corruption, hunger and fear.

You have a family to look after. How do you reconcile your duty towards your family and politics?

Fortunately, I have a very considerate family. When I entered public life, my children were of a very tender age of 5 and 2 only. My parents and parents-in-law have helped me a lot by looking after children whenever I had to go out. My spouse also helped me a lot by taking care of other things.

How do you manage your functioning in Parliament, in the constituency and the family?

I have attended almost every sitting of Parliament. I do study a lot about the matters coming up before the house and other matters of national importance. I also try to raise problems of my constituency on a regular basis. When Parliament is not in session, I make use of this time to the full by spending most of the time visiting different towns and villages of my constituency. The little time I get I utilise it fully and try to be with family. I love and enjoy participating in all family functions and gatherings actively. My family understands my other preoccupations and co-operates with me to the best.

Before being an M.P, what office did you hold in the party or win any other elected office?.

I started my services to the party as general secretary of district mahila morcha. Thereafter I held the posts of District President Mahila Morcha, Secretary District BJP, State President Mahila Morcha, General Secretary Rajasthan BJP and National Secretary in party. In 1994, I got elected as Mayor of Udaipur Municipal Council for a five-year term. I also got elected as founder president of Udaipur Mahila Samridhi Co-op. Bank in 1994.

In politics, is it a plus point or negative one to be a woman?

Personally, in politics I do not believe in differentiating between man and woman. Both are complementary to each other. Women are more objective and firm in decision making by nature. However, sometimes, male members of society do not accept the qualities and dedication of women.

How far have you been able to look after the interests of women and how?

The basic problem of women in Bharat is lack of education and earning skills. I worked a lot by utilising co-operative institutions and social welfare schemes for empowerment of women. I tried to instill a sense of self-confidence and self-reliance in women. I lay emphasis on the need for good understanding in the family and to fight against injustice.

Do you think women MPs have been successful in playing their role as effectively as men?

Yes, we have many women leaders of great caliber and courage. What determines the effectiveness of role is not whether a person is a man or woman but one's dedication, courage, and willingness are more important. Both men and women can possess these qualities.

We had late Indira Gandhi as prime minister of the country for about 15 years. Do you think she was able to address women problems adequately as a woman leader should have? Do you think women's lot was taken care of more effectively than under a male prime minister at that time?

I do not agree with the thought process that care of a class will be taken of only by a leader belonging to that very class. It is not material to which class a leader belongs but whether he understands the problems facing the country and various sections of the society. How does he face those problems? Men and women are both part of the human race. Most of the problems are common for both.

What, in your view, are burning issues of women that should be taken care of immediately?

Lack of education and earning skills, absence of a feeling of security and poor health facilities are major issues that should be taken care of on priority.

Rajasthan is known, nay notorious, for child marriages and sati traditions. How do you look at the problem?

This is wrong to say the large number of child marriages take place in Rajasthan. The instances of child marriage are very few, when compared to total population. Education and awareness is the solution. As far as I know only two instances of sati took place after independence in Rajasthan. It is absolutely wrong to call such stray instances as a tradition. Sati has never been a tradition in Bharat. The whole propaganda is to defame the Hindu society.

What is the magic with which you have been holding on to the people of your constituency so long?

Good communication and rapport with the masses; ever readiness to raise their voice; and transparent and honest public life makes a person a good representative. Big targets, hard labour, large heartedness, and sweet voice are essential qualities for great achievements. A political activist must take care of his fellow party workers.

Mrs. Kiran Maheshwari as a woman and Mrs. Kiran Maheshwari as a politician and MP are two different personalities. Which of the two roles you like the most?

Kiran Maheshwari is a woman first and other roles are secondary. As a woman, she can understand the problems of her people and her country in the depth of her heart. Her role as politician and MP is to work for solving these problems.

What were your achievements as Mayor of Udaipur and what problems and pleasures you experienced while working as such?

During my tenure the revenue collections of Udaipur municipal council trebled to Rs. 22 crores per annum. As a result it did not face problem of funds for development. Revenue was raised without imposing any new levy or tax and even after providing major relief in octroi duty rates. Development of a good road network, improvement of education and health infrastructure, beautification and cleanliness of city, immediate redressal of public grievances, transparency and timely permission for construction and land use change, construction of community halls and establishing reading rooms in all wards are some of the main achievements.

Municipal Council spent a lot of funds on school and hospital buildings, although both were under the control of State Government. Udaipur became the richest municipal body in Rajasthan during this period.

I used to have a very hectic schedule of working from 7 in the morning till 11 in the night. The major challenge before me was to tune in the municipal administration to rise to the expectations of the people since these were very high as the election for the council was held after a long gap of 22 years. When I was elected as Mayor, there were apprehensions whether as a woman I would be able to exercise control and provide better administration. To my utmost pleasure people soon started displaying their confidence in me and I received full support of my fellow councilors, Administration, BJP leadership and the then CM of Rajasthan, Shree Bhairon Singhji Shekhawat. Shree Atal Bihariji Vajpayee, then Leader of Opposition came on a private holiday to Jaisamand near Udaipur. On my request, he spared some time to meet BJP workers. When he appreciated the cleanliness and beauty of the city, it gave me a great sense of pleasure.

As a founder of the first woman's Bank, what was your motivation and did you realise the goals with which it was established? How far has it been able to help women?

Economic security and self-reliance for women were the main motivating factors for establishing the Bank. The Bank was computerised from the day one to keep operating expenses low and to provide better services. The bank has been able to develop women entrepreneurship in the area. It has helped more than two thousand women so far to start economic activities.

You have mentioned "social work and business" as your profession. What social work and business you have involved yourself and with what success?

I am actively associated with Bharat Vikas Parishad, Sewa Bharti and Bhartiya Lions Parisangh. Environment protection, public awareness and women welfare are the areas I am involved in social sectors. Now-a-days I am not able to spare time for business. However, earlier I was involved in business of artificial jewelry and garments although on a very small scale. My business ventures were quite profitable and successful.

Our society seems to be becoming more and more permissive, Europeanised forgetting our own culture. How do you see it?

It is a major concern for all of us. Our education system requires basic and fundamental changes. Students in their childhood should be taught about our rich cultural values, to understand and discriminate between what is good and what is bad. There should be public awareness about importance of the institution of family and social values.

What, in your opinion, needs to be done to attract more youth and women to BJP?

We have to spread the programmes of Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha more aggressively. The policies of BJP for youth and women are quite good and right. The party's programmes and policies for development, awareness and justice to all have to be propagated more vigorously.

Your greatest success?

While working as State President, Rajasthan Mahila Morcha, the morcha established its units at every Panchayat Samiti level and in all big villages. I organized the first state level convention of Mahila Morcha at Kota and that was a great success. More than 22000 women workers participated in it.

What would you have done if you had not jumped into politics?

I would have continued to work with Durga Vahini and similar organisations for betterment of society. I also would have continued my small business outfits of imitation jewelry and garments.