Maya turns Memsaab, goes 'English' to woo south

ENGLISH AND AUGUST: The English version of Maya's autobiography is called Travelogue of My Struggle-Ridden Life and Bahujan Movement.

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Lucknow: In the Hindi heartland, it seems politicians are fast changing their views on English.

After Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav recently announced he will learn the language, it’s now BSP president Mayawati's turn to show her new-found love for English.

The UP Chief Minister’s autobiography has been translated into English for a target audience and is now called Travelogue of My Struggle-Ridden Life and Bahujan Movement.

Her reason: “This book has been translated for south Indians."

With her eyes set on the huge Dalit vote bank in South, mainly Tamil Nadu; the Dalit queen has been quick to realise she could spread her and her party's ideology in south by releasing an English translation of her autobiography, first released in Hindi in January.

English is finding favour with politicians cutting across the political spectrum. Mulayam, once a strong opponent of English, is now its advocate, perhaps to help him in his new role as convener of the Third Front where active interaction with several southern politicians is required.

“If Naidu can learn Hindi why can't I? I will also start learning English,” he says.

For years UP's politicians were reluctant to encourage English. But the era of coalition politics, the trend seems to be fast changing and politicians have realised if they have to expand the party base beyond the boundaries of UP, English cannot be ignored.