| kartik:Respected Madame, Good afternoon! I see u as a Danseuse, well how for would you be able to make your work getting more appealed to people when you serve as a parlimentarian? what changes would you bring in the life of a common man and the poor? what proposition does it make for you to contest against a seasoned polition like Mr L.K Advani. Thanking you. Regards, Kartik |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i contest because the system needs to change. seasoned politicians have enriched themselves or theri egos or nurtured hatred. if the people wish, if they realize that they are"vote banks" and not individuals with wants and needs, pain and joy, then we shall have a good fight |
| sandy1093:hi...may i ask u why are always an anti modi icon?....i think he has given gujrath what no leader has given to them in terms of developement?...Dont you think itz a negative kind of a publicity?.. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: surely you should ask him! |
| Shreyas:Your agenda as MP are sustainability, sustainable growth and basic security for all especially women and children. By being law maker do you think you can influence these things? You need to be in executive to do what you intend to. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: then there are so many executives why has it not been done? as an mp i would form partnerships with my constituency and not dole out mp lads funds as though i am a rich uncle. |
| Pradeep Balagangadharan:I am convinced that you are an ideal candidate for our Lok Sabha elections. How do you plan to convince Gandhinagar BJP vote bank, the same? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: by having people like you help me. |
| Siddharth Joshi:How do you think can people support you? And why should they support you? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: because democracy has to be about people and my candidacy is about bringing it back to the people |
| siddaram patil:Is it the chep publicity factor that to be in news has pitched u aginst Mr LK Advani a true Indian Patriot who has dedicated his whole life fighting the curropt and psedosecular congress and form a strong non congress force BJP which has bought enormus change to India and gujrat in perticular . U cannot become great after contesting, u r sure to loose because u have no ideology,no commitment towards ur constituencies,no political background; u r sure shot to loose ;talked for a while in some english news channel to appease ur so called intellectual friends who to great extent do not vote can just give suggestions, i am ashamed that a artist of ur kind have such trechous tendencies with only a single motive to tarnish Mr advani image than u r day dreaming u will turn out to be fodder for news agency and will be permanently lost from public memories u must be disgraced to ur self. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: you have every right to your views. thank you for sharing them |
| tannistha:Hi Mallika ben. I am so glad to see you taking this step. I don't know if you remember me from when I was in UNICEF and was working with Darpana on the folk media project? I am in the US now doing a graduate degree in public policy. What made you decide to context against Advani? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: circumstances. and the feeling that tomorrow would be too late. and of course i remember you and we are still working on public health issues |
| Natrajan:Hi Mallika, How do u think it helps being a management graduate from IIMA? What do u think about top notch graduates entering politics in India? Is it feasible in the long run? Is politics worth ditching the high paying jobs? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: politics shouldn't be a dhandha. it is and that is what has to change. so if you are giving up a high paying job with that in mind, dont |
| GANESH:Dear Madam, We would like to see you in the Parliament.However, we think that you have chosen a constituency where you do not stand a reasonably good chance. We wish that you could have chosen a constituency like in Vadodara or Surat region where historically people have shown less of party line choice. Anyway, We wish you all the best and Godwilling, you will tame the lions. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: thank you for your support |
| MS:"I am glad that you think at 82 he is good for our future. ". I think that's an obnoxious comment to make on Advani. And at 50+, what do you have on offer that can be weighed against Advani's experience in national politics? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: truth. an agenda without hatred. and no long standing ambition to become pm |
| Vinuta:Good afternoon Ma'am, What inspired you or rather what made you stand for elections this year and that too against Advani. Though I highly appreciate that we have more and more people intersted in politics, but do you think you stand a chance to win? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: winning is not the sole issue |
| atuln:Helo Mallika, from your answers it looks like that you are the person who don't like the questions which is against you!! ....and you are always talking about "freedom of expression"... |
| Mallika Sarabhai: what gave you that impression? |
| Shreyas:What are the top 3 items on your agenda if you are elected as MP? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: sustainability, sustainable growth and basic security for all especially women and children |
| Amandeep:Hello Madam, I met u last year in Finland and since then I was a big fan of yours. Congratulations for coming into Indian politcs. When do you thing we have a better system and better ppl like you in government? thanks |
| Mallika Sarabhai: when more and more jump in and show and talk about it |
| karthik:if your fight is against BJPs "Communalism agenda" , why havent you so far kept silent on Congress? it also has blood on its hand, ( 1984 anti-sikh riots ). So why dont you stand against Sonia Gandhi?? Why this Hypocrisy ?? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: why do you think i have not tied the knot with nay party? there si little to choose from, and i dont any more want the lesser of the two or five or six evils |
| narendrayd:Why do you want to fight against an eminent personlaity in Indian Politics be it for or against? If you desire to do any justice for the social justice as you have proclaimed in the news channels, you could have done it without fighting an election. You are a loner and even if suppose you win, your becoming a minister is again a remote chance, and say even if you become a minister you cannot do anything single handedly out of the way for the social beings for whom you say you are fighting a battle which seems to be lost even before the elections. In todays scenario of coliation politics even hands of expereinced politicians are tied up and cannot do much other than just run the government or twsit their arms for vested reasons. To conclude it seems that you are not only creating and adding to the confusion but also trying to bake your bread by going through the SOPs set by somebody else (whom you are aware of) and that too in somebodys kitchen. Your Comments. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: how strange that in the last 45 mins none of you have understood that the victory is not the only fight. do you not know your bhagvad gita? walking a just and honest path is even more important.and that is what i will do. publicaly |
| Parin:My criteria for vote is to choose the lesser of the evil parties. My choice is thus BJP. Whats your take on that? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: see above. and i DONT take it |
| Parin:No political party in the world is clean from controversies & corruption. As an electorate everywhere in the world one has to choose between the lesser of the evil parties. In the current Indian scenario which party you consider as the least evil & Why? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: it is because i have had enough of all evils that i am standing as an independent |
| Pranav:Why are u standing against the political party that has immensely cntributed towards the development of gujrat both ecnomically and socially ? Standing in the name of secularism in 2009 when the whole country is praising Mr. Modi for the development in Gujrat. U cant deny the fact that Gandhinagar the constituency has developed |
| Mallika Sarabhai: ask the people who live in the shanties without water, toilets, a voice or jobs. |
| bharat:Hello Madam: Why is that intellectuals like you , get into a paradox, While you praise the rich culture of our nation ( predominently Hindu driven) , why is that you are opposing people who raise hindu identity. After all advanced nations like UK and USA also derives its strength from religion, The queen is the head of church in england and teh church has a role in that nation |
| Mallika Sarabhai: india is a unique country so please dont reduce it. hinduism is about plurality. other wise we would have had one male god. we have millions and create new goddesses for today. and we take everyone in our ambit. when someone, a christian, wanted to convert to hinduism and asked gandhiji about it, he said ' be a true chrisitian, then you are a hindu" |
| Nitin Krishna Menon:I heard you on one of the TV channels that you chose to contest from Gandhinagar because you have spent a lot of time in the city and NOT because Mr. Advani is contesting. Isn't it going to be tough for you against such a veteran? Nevertheless, i commend your spirit and enthusiasm to contest. This seems to be the only thing right in the present elections, with all the other parties falling apart. All the best ma'am. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: thank you. both reasons are true. a fight has to be worth fighting, especially if it is on the grounds of morality, ethics and the constitution |
| pawan:Madam, Why don't you fight against Mr. Ansari in UP, Pappu/Sahabuddin/Surajbhan in Bihar, who are shame on democracy. Rather than fighting smbolic against Great Leader like Mr. Advani. There is no comparision bet him and you, in nation service and contribution. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i dont believe in contesting from areas of which i know nothing |
| rohan:well when i logged into the chat i thought i would hear something original from Mallika. But what i can see is inconsistency & empty vessel. At one point you make a sarcastic remark on Advaniji's age and in no time you say your view is that age is no hindrance. So what exactly is your opinion ?? Secondaly, all i see is you are for development but not for suicidal development. Please elaborate. A classic case of subjective politician who has a high level agenda but no ground work knowledge. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: what you want is too long for a chat like this. but watch this space! |
| rickytaylor:Just would like to know....what contribution do you think you can make towards education...i do not mean higher level education....for hte children going ot schools....i ask this because every "leader" seems to be interested to get reservation for some group of people based on when the elections begin....I would lalso like to know if you wud support and fight for hte cause of small scholarships for children of the financially backward so that rather than working..the children get money AND education by going ot schools. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: yes i totally support children from very poor families being given support to allow them to stay in school. i dont think just getting kids to school is good enough. what we teach itself is ridiculous. a major rethink of what education is and what literacy is, is needed. i believe in affirmative action with a time limit. not for political gains |
| Thiagan:All muslim countries treats its minorities shabbily; in Pakistan and B'desh, the minority Hindus have disappeared through forced conversion, forced migration and plain murders. Why we should bother about 800 muslims kiled in Gujarat, when you are not apparently bothered about the Pandiyts in Kashmir? The secular fanatics have made secularism one way traffic, which is not acceptable. Multi cultural societies in Europe are crumbling because of non integration of muslims and their advancing aggresssion for shariaa etc. What is wrong if we Hindus support BJP to protect the interests of the majority, when seculars seem to have abandoned it. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i am concerned about all violence. anywhere. do you really want to reduce our once great country to iran or pakistan, a country so frightened that it can not even allow that much plurality. it is really sad that you wish to reduce us to the worst. threats only come from the insecure and the frightened, not from the courageous. |
| Naved:Rajesh Khanna gave LK Advani a run for his money at the height of his popularity. What do you think your chances are in the upcoming election? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: time will tell |
| r.bhaargav:What is the motivation behind this decision to contest against Mr.Advani? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: by his own admission mr advani sees the ratha yatra as his greatest achievement. to me that was the beginning of the demise of the idea of india as a secular plural democracy. if i had to fight, it had to be against the architect of that demise |
| amit kaduskar:Dear Madam I think that you stick to what you can do Best that is Dancing.Donot venture into Polictics,esp not against the man of stature of Mr.Advani. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: luckily for me the indian constitution allows anyone to stand. and i have multiple roles. should i not be an author or journalist or mother or thinker because i am a dancer? why is your view of yourself so diminished? |
| Raja Krsnan:Mallika, I find that you are contesting against LK Advani. I feel that you are wasting your precious time. Your candidature is of no significance to any political party. You are on a aimless journey in politics which you do not understood nor has the time for it. Dancing is one thing and Politics is another. People look at you as an artiste and nothing more. Also I find in you a extremely biased personality. Probably that is because the rough past you had in your younger days is the culprit. Some decades back a rouge said politics is the last refuge of the charlatans. Have you by any chance became one? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: my candidature is significant to hundreds of people who have reached me since it was announced. a rogue or a charlatan? do you know me? who is showing a bias if you are already sure i am biased? |
| Rohans_den:May I ask you, how do you intend to keep yourself away from the muddled world of Indian politics? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i dont think we should keep away. we need to clean the poisons |
| Navi:Hi Madam, We are happy to see you in the Elections. The India Politics is difficult than Chakravyuha, you may be popular in various arts but when it comes to Elections that too Lokasabha elections, the voter will opt for the recognised politician, its very rare that non political candidates win the elections as an independent. We wish you Good Luck. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: thank you. the one truth about our polity is the surprises it springs. i will fight a good and just fight and i will fight with people not with money or threats. baki joyun jashe |
| innak:Though he is 82, he is still young at mind. He is using all that IT stuff. Like many youth leaders he is working equal to them, I don't think that he is old. In my view, one who does not work is a old person, not just by number of birthdays celebrated. What abut you, you dont seem to be known very much in politics, people like you appear only on the eve of nominations, later no one can find you, will be busy with your own livelihood. But dedicated leaders like Advani, they dont stand for wining rather they stand for people's issues & will happily accept opposition leader's position if not voted. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i agree with you totally on the age issue. i know so many people at 20 who are half dead. i have been around in the public eye and in the eye of a storm for many years. win or lose i am not going to disappear from gujarat or the country - much, no doubt, to the disappointment of many |
| Srijith:Hi, Wish you all the best!. What would your plans be for the Narmada Valley project? What is your opinion about it? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: the building of the damn is history. it is built. i wish i could say the same for all the promises made about how many kms of the canal should be ready by now and where the waters should have reached |
| Change-is-Permanent:You are welcome to contest against anybody and everybody . Its the power of our democracy. All the Best!!! However, Advaniji has an experience of 55 years in public service and active politics. Few people have served the country for such a long time with so Advaniji's dedication. He has a clean, non-corrupt image. He deserves to be the PM for all that he has done for the country. Anyway, What do you promise if voted to power? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: that i will follow the constitution which says that all indians are equal irrespective of religion, caste and gender and that i will not unleash such hatred that it kills, maims and destroys |
| haris:What's your future course of action, if you lose against advani? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: My life for many years has been devoted to fighting against what i think is wrong and trying to work with the young to make them see the possibilities. so i will continue working |
| krismohan2001:Though I do not belive in your ideology, I want professionals like you to not just contest election to lose, but to win and participate in governance. If you were serious about winning, then why did not you make your decision public in advance so that you would have got more time to garner support from people? Is it that you want to contest and lose so that you can satisfy your conscience and at the same time stay out of ugly and demanding world of politics? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i had not though of contesting this election till i was pressed by a lot of friends, strangers and colleagues in the world of activism. it just felt right. so here i am. and as for preparation, in some ways all the work i have done in twenty five years in gujarat and elsewhere is the preparation. it is exactly the kind of cynicism that you show that we need to break through if we want to become a more just and equitable, a more humane society |
| krishna:whom do think should be the next PM of our country? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: my guess is as good as yours |
| satyawel ramakeshwan:All the political party agenda says the same, when they can not do how are you going to provide safe life, livelihood etc etc etc. I think this is only a cheap cheap publicity, and here don't say that you need no publicity. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: mr advani has been promising this from gandhinagar for thirty long years, an entire generation. why then are things SO wrong? |
| Rajay:What is your agenda for Gujarat. I and a majority of people in Gujarat think that you don't have any agenda but to tie up with forces who cannot stomach the growth of the state. And by the way what's your take on Maut ke Saudagar ka speach |
| Mallika Sarabhai: it is so refreshing to meet people even in virtual space who think they know the minds of the majority of gujaratis. see my earlier response re agenda. for me any growth that is not inclusive or that destroys the earth and natural resources that we as human beings share, is wrong. and gujarat's growth is wrong. of course we need industrialization but not greedy uncaring and suicidal industrialization. |
| GANESH:Dear Madam, what will be your agenda for the people of Ahmedabad/Gujarat?In what way you think that you can make a difference ? How strong is your conviction that you can win and make a difference in the political world too? Finally,What gives you the courage to stand against a PM post aspirant? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: see my earlier response about agenda. i am making a difference and have been for years. i have been in politics for years, every act or word of mine is political. today i have stepped into electoral politics |
| aryn:dot you think that professionals and intellectuals like you should rather concentrate on unveiling the political awareness among the nationals and create an alternative party for the future with young,aware and enthusiastic people to participate in policy making and governance.since we are really looking on to a fresh party to vote for with innovative and progressive ideology |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i have tried that for years and have waited for a couple of hundred other like minded people to join me. hasnt happened and tomorrow will be too late. perhaps soon there will be enough of us in the open to form another kind of party - a party for the people of india, for the earth and not only for power mad, and unconstitutional people |
| Ravikumar C K:Hi Mallika,First of all congrats for winning your election,everyone knows L.K Advani is a great leader,so you can't win him without any proper agenda.so can you tell me your agenda and why should india vote for you. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: people. people's voices. livelihoods for the dispossessed. basic security and safety. the environment. reclaiming democracy for the people. |
| Rohans_den:Since you have called your candidature 'Satyagraha against politics of hatred' may I ask you how do you intend to contain the primary religious stereotypes which causes conflicts between extremist religious communities? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: there are so many more important and pressing issues in daily life than ram or rahim. none of us feel safe - if the traffic doesnt run us over, if the police don't rape us, if the hospital infected needle does not give us hiv then there is always the water we drink which is full of toxins from sewage and industry or the red chillies with mercury. let's talk of what is relevant |
| yasir-mohammed:respected madam . what do you call this fight young ideals v/s old ideals or new India v/s old India ? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: satyagrah vs hatyagrah |
| Subodh Lal:You are a high profile candidate whose defeat is almost certain. Won't you be granting further legitimacy to Narendra Modi and LK Advani by losing -which, alas, is foregone much as we would wish it were not- the presitgious GANDHInagar seat? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: nothing is forgone, ever, in an election. and i am fighting a just and honest and transparent fight for truth as much as for the fight. let any other candidate fight as openly with all their resources put down and with no hidden assets not shown. at least my candidacy will bring lies out in the open |
| khozema:Mr Advani is a great polititian and also a matured leader we need leaders like him for the future of our country if he is oppositio also he is working for the good will of the country |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i am glad that you think at 82 he is good for our future |
| Roy Thomas:Mallika, This is Roy Thomas from Kerala. Accompanied you during the shooting of "DANNY" with Mammooty. I hope you are fine. I am really glad that you are contesting against Advani. I read of your principled stand against the hate politics practised by Advani, Modi and their ilk. I will pray to God that you win. We need voices like you in our Parliment. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: this is the time. i need all voices to be heard. don't let the voices of hatred and fear mongering drown us out. say ENOUGH |
| Subodh Lal:Given the battleground and the opponent - both of your choosing- how do you think your candidature can be anything but tokenism? As it is there is a lot of lip service paid to various causes in this country with no follow-up action. How do you propose to make your fight count? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: it already counts. i have received hundreds of sms and e mails from across the nation for having taken the step. people feel that by having thrown down the gauntlet i have already broken the silence and fear of stepping in. even if i can pave for the road for hundreds of others to jump in, it will have been worth it |
| SHARIEF:WHY U WANT TO FIGHT AGAINST ADVANI ? WHAT R THE CHANCES THAT PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR U AGAINST A PRIME MINISTIRIAL CANDIDATE ? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: we need to reclaim the people's democracy. today it is a government by the politician, of the politician and most certainly for the politician. how can that be a democracy? winning and losing is only part of wanting a space for people in today's world. |
| vikram:Do you belive that you can win against money power and man power of BJP |
| Mallika Sarabhai: I will fight a just and transparent people's campaign.not power, not hatred, not fear not jingoism. we will see how it unrolls |
| atul:Helo Mallika, do you really think that you are fighting against Mr. Advani or it is your belief? Are you capable for it? Don't you think that now people like you should realise that the general public of Gujarat is not foolish? Don't you think that your anti gujarat stand is now exposed? Our impression for people like you and your "Team" is that for you gujarat and gujaratis are soft "target"...! Could you please tell us what is your capacity?? You should tell us something about you also so that we can atleast know who you are...!!? |
| Mallika Sarabhai: your first question is unclear. yes i am capable. i have a PhD in management and have worked at both the grassroots and in managerial capacities. I have great respect for the intelligence of people. i don't know what you mean about soft target. you can visit my web site or google me to find out about what i have done for and in Gujarat since 1980 |
| swapnilshashank:Mallika, Why didn't you contest from Congress ticket, they would have been very happy to offer you a ticket as they hardly have anyone to fight against L K Advani. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i would love for them to support me from the outside but how can i join a party with whom i have major differences just to win? |
| Abhishek Awasthi :No doubt, Advani is invincible in Gandhinagar by contesting elections u would be eating congress votes. Don't u think it would be wise to campaign for congress in Gujarat instead of entering poll fray? After all it will narrow down the margin of L K Advani's win. |
| Mallika Sarabhai: i dont think there are any "no doubts" in a campaign. i am standing for what i am standing for. that does not match the aspirations or agenda of any of the parties. i will not be an ally to those i disapprove of. i am standing for a people's voice |
Chat Master
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Mallika Sarabhai Danseuse and politician Mallika Sarabhai is one of India’s leading Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancers. This IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus grabbed international attention when she played the role of Draupadi in noted director Peter Brook’s The Mahabharata for five years, performing in France, North America, Australia, Japan and Scotland. An activist for societal education and women's empowerment, she also runs her own dance company. |
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