Holi In Haridwar: New Trivendra Singh Rawat, New Slogan, New Beginning

"हे दर्जी दिदा मैकू तू अंगडी बणे दे मेरी घघरी पर चमकदार मगज़ लगे दे
मिन आज नैनी डांडा देवी का पास जाण देवी का नौकु बुगठ्या मिन आज वख चडाँण"

In this famous Garhwali song, iconic lyricist late Jeet Singh Negi portrays a woman — who is a devotee of Devi.

The woman makes a request to the village tailor. She addresses him as "dida" — brother. She asks him to make for her an angani and stitch to the angani a shining "magaj" — sort of a decorative frill.

She needs this traditional garment in order to visit the Devi of Naini Danda and dedicate an offering to the Devi.

When Uttarakhand's well-known singer Rekha Dhasmana Uniyal sang this folk song at the Holi milan held in the honour of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP's) candidate for Lok Sabha from Haridwar — Trivendra Singh Rawat — in the Haridwar constituency, it helped unveil the former chief minister’s new inning on a bigger pitch.

The celebration of devotion for the Devi by a woman in the song is addressed to a male, who acquires the place of importance owing to his skill in the village.

In Uttarakhand, women courageously shape their own journeys between the home and destination with strenuous work and will.

However, there would be a "dida" sharing some part of the responsibility for her success or her domestic and cultural prosperity. In the current political context, over two terms and over two assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has enjoyed the stature of the trusted "dida".

It is perhaps for this reason that a new slogan popped up at the Holi milan — that marked a season of new beginnings in the political journey of Trivendra Singh Rawat, of Haridwar constituency and a new but fairly-sturdy chapter of trust that women place in PM Modi.

Rawat is back — propelled by supporters and BJP workers on a new slogan that matters to him more than ever.

The new slogan is “Jai Narendra, Jai Trivendra.”

The slogan is short and familiar — at least in its sound and has previously seen similar versions in Gujarat and Maharashtra politics. It is now localised in Garhwal’s Haridwar — and down to the localised level of the constituency that Rawat will be fighting from.

In addition to that, Rawat has come back to contest with a stronger image as "bade bhai", as "dida", in whose presence the local Garhwali and Kumaoni women broke into the celebration of Holi — in a full-hearted display of traditional dancing and singing.

Holi milans are a usual part of political interactions. This Holi milan organised by Rajpal Singh Rawat, a local leader from the constituency, was slightly above the usual mark when it came to the participation and playfulness of women attendees as one whole. 

The gathering dedicated to Holi had a larger share of women attendees. Rawat addressed them in festive fervour and seemed to become nostalgic with is own mention of gendered associations with his mother.

He said, “This iconic song written by late Jeet Singh Negi mentions 'magaj' and other elements that are set in the tradition and traditional home of Uttarakhand. How many of you know or remember what 'magaj' is... All these elements are part of our heritage and cultural identity.”

The song also helped reveal a renewed and refreshed version of Trivendra Singh Rawat himself amid the celebration of colours and phag and bring back the man whose passion for pahadi culture, local produce, and matters of tradition were visible during his stint as chief minister.

“Whenever I hear this song, it becomes natural to remember Jeet Singh Negi and his iconic work. When one remembers Jeet Singh Negi, it’s natural to remember another icon of Uttarakhand — late Kunwar Singh Negi — who made great contributions to braille. Also, I am glad that Rekha Dhasmana Uniyal, with her beautiful voice and repertoire, has now made a comeback."

Rawat pointedly acknowledged the opportunity for Uniyal, a local artiste of repute, to perform at Holi milan, along with other women artistes. He seemed to endorse the value of a comeback.    

Besides his unique ability to connect quickly with Uttarakhandi folk culture, local heritage and Uttarakhandi pride, Rawat arrived at the dais for a bigger contest with home-like warmth, and knowledge of the constituency at the assembly level. This is his strength in the new responsibility as a candidate — till 19 April, when Uttarakhand polls during the first phase.

Rawat spoke at the cultural meeting, addressing voters and the teams of workers, some of them prominent during his stint as a Member of Legislative Assembly from Doiwala constituency (Haridwar Lok Sabha).

Rawat won from the Doiwala assembly three times and served as an MLA before his term as chief minister ended abruptly shortly before he would complete four years in office as chief minister.

On Friday (22 March), Rawat filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha poll virtually in the presence of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank who is sitting MP from Haridwar and former chief minister of Uttarakhand.

Rawat said: "It marks the beginning of a new journey in my political career. From being an MLA from Doiwala to filing nomination today as a candidate for the Lok Sabha from the pilgrimage city, it has been an emotional journey for me."

Rawat added that he assures people that they will find him standing by their side through thick and thin. “The wave of development is not going to stop,” he added. Rawat also met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ahead of Holi.

Rawat's "three years of vanvas", as a local leader described the period between his sudden removal as chief minister of Uttarakhand in 2021 and now, when he has filed his nomination from Haridwar for the eighteenth Lok Sabha, was a period of patience.

Rawat is known to have been given organisational responsibilities during this period. Since the announcement of his candidature, Rawat has travelled to different parts of the constituency, including parts of his constituency in Roorkee, Dehradun and Haridwar for campaign.

He said at the Holi milan, "We are currently in phag, the month and season when trees blossom with the baur (the flowering of trees that fear fruit). It is the season of new beginnings. We are moving towards growth and prosperity. Each tree is laden with an abundance of fruit. Something similar is happening right now. The day Holi and other festivals are celebrated as a community, we realise our strength and the strength of the samaj."

Rawat mentioned how Darwan Singh Negi — one of the first Indian soldiers to be awarded the Victoria Cross — also known for having voiced the demand for a railway line from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag.

"He had a great vision as a soldier. Even the idea of a railway line from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag would appear like a dream. Wo sapna poora hua. The all-weather road, too, is unique in itself. We have to continue the momentum of work with a huge mandate."

The familiarity with workers and voters at the mandal where this Holi milan was held led him to speak with an open heart. "Until the 19th, is the season of asking you for support, and after that (4 June), will begin the season of giving. That season of 'giving' will last five years. I am 'asking' you (for support) and those present here have to connect to others and have to ask for support for me."

With a probable win, Rawat will have the chance to apply workable ideas from his experience in state administration, his passion for Uttarakhandi culture, and his over-all experience as a senior BJP leader and former three-time MLA to a constituency bearing diverse challenges and improvement areas.

Clearly, Rawat is looking ahead instead of looking back, that the press tries to compel him to, or his supporters want to wean him away from, in their futuristic tone and show of number-backed support.

Rawat — surely a man of vision — would want to win to be able to put that vision on table and on ground. Among voters and supporters within the party, there seems a resolve — backed by sympathy for this candidate — to help him make up for his lost years. He is not spelling his ambition, but they are expressing their own ambition for him.

Supporters and workers themselves have set targets for leads at the mandal and constituency, however, noteworthy are their hopes that Rawat will get the opportunity to serve as a minister at the Centre in NDA-IV.

"Jai Narendra, Jai Trivendra" — at this moment is a slogan coming from Rawat's supporters and not from PM Modi himself. However, it speaks of the reliability-factor that rides on the slogan that goes beyond mere rhyming.

This report is part of Swarajya's 50 Ground Stories Project - an attempt to throw light on themes and topics that are often overlooked or looked down. You can support this initiative by sponsoring as little as Rs 2,999/-. Click here for more details.