Uma Bharti
From Freepedia
Uma Bharti (born May 3, 1959, Madhya Pradesh, India) is an Indian politician. She is from the Bharatiya Janata Party. She was the first woman to be the Chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.
The Sanyasin: Uma has told people close to her that she has two identities. One belongs to a sadhu who saved her life (and died the very same day), when she was three. He’s the sanyasi within her. He’s why she could give religious discourses in 75 countries around the world from the age of five
Number 173: This number is fixed in her head; it’s the number of seats the BJP won in Madhya Pradesh in this year’s assembly elections. She pointed to 173 each time she wanted to make the point that she was in touch with the grassroots. And that her enemies in the Rajya Sabha weren’t
Whims and Fancies: The midnight bath in Narmada was a weekly ritual. She decided it on a whim after attending an akhand ramayan path early last December. Security arrangements were a nightmare. The Bandrabhan ghat, where she bathed, is 70 kms from Bhopal
Hidden Homebody: She rearranged the CM’s office at Bhopal’s Vallabh Bhawan to fit practically a whole mandir into it. There were havans all day before she actually moved in there. Several ministers followed Didi’s lead. And in one case did so with such enthusiasm that people thought the building was on fire
Discourses & Disputes
Born May 3, 1959
At age 5, started giving religious discourses
By 16, she attained fame for discourses on the Ramayana
She began travelling around the country to broaden her experience
Decided early on not to marry and remain a Sadhvi, committed to hindutva. Known as “Didi” to followers
Travelled to 75 countries for her discourses
1980 — Entered politics after coming into contact with Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia
1984 — first contested Lok Sabha elections from Khajuraho at age of 25; lost in the post-Indira Gandhi assassination sympathy wave
1986 — raised her profile through the Ayodhya movement
1988 — became deputy chief of BJP’s Madhya Pradesh state unit
1989 — won LS election from Khajuraho
Re-elected in 1991, 1996 and 1998; in 1999, contested and won from Bhopal
1992 — during demolition of Babri Masjid she reportedly egged on kar sewaks saying “ek dhakka aur do” (she denies this)
Union minister of state for HRD (1998-99), Tourism (1999-2000), Youth Affairs and Sports (2000-20002), Coal and Mines (2002-2003)
2003 — Led party to big win in MP state assembly elections; was elected from Bara Malehra and became state’s first woman Chief Minister
2004 — Summons from Karanataka court in Tiranga case led to her resignation; she launched Tiranga Yatra
Dispute with national executive members during yatra. She announced sanyas, but then changed her mind. This is a common tactic employed by politicians to get sympathy for their cause.
