Varanasi's Padma awardees to queue up at poll booths

VARANASI: His untamed curls caressing the back of his neck, Acharya Rajeshwar said with a glint in his eyes that he was glad he'd be casting his 20th vote as a classical singer in Varanasi on Sunday.
"Many a good singer has emerged from my house and earned due recognition. I am glad some recognition came my way this year after decades of oblivion. I have lived to see the times of violent booth-capturing. It's about time India became safer and stronger," said the Padma Shri singer, seated inside his 100-year-old residence on the bustling Bhaidani Street.
Barely 300 metres from Rajeshwar's home, 85-year-old Acharya Bagish Shastri - who became a Padma Shri in 2018 - is equally excited, notwithstanding a cerebral stroke two months ago. "My vote this time is for rashtra nirman (nation building). Rashtra devo bhava (the nation is like God)," he said animatedly.
Considering the rich legacy of Varanasi, which is inhabited by doyens of literature and music, besides sports geniuses, at least 27 such living legends - awarded with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Arjuna, Dhyanchand, Kabir and Rani Lakshmi Bai titles - will exercise their franchise on Sunday.
There are those who have recently shifted out of Varanasi to earn a better livelihood amid growing demands to perform after their achievements were recognised.
"I miss casting my vote since I shifted to Mumbai sometime ago. But, I am glad I spent the last six days in Varanasi," said Soma Ghosh, an exponent of classical music and the adopted daughter of Ustad Bismillah Khan. Most of them regret the award wapsi by some artistes in 2015, but say it would not be appropriate to share a political preference. This even as they publicly endorse PM Narendra Modi's and the NDA's efforts to recognise the obscure talent in Varanasi and shower the poor among them with honours like the Padma awards.
"Of course, I am a Modi fan for reasons that he never promoted any dynasty or helped his own family's coffers or supported any caste. He only ventured out to help deserving talent," said Rajeshwar.
Ghosh agrees. "As far as a prime ministerial candidate is concerned, there is only one face and that is Varanasi's beloved Modiji. No one could bring life back to Varanasi with cleaner ghats and by giving a fresh lease of life to neglected art here like him," she said.
Sportspersons like Prashanti Singh, Arjuna awardee Bahadur Prasad and Gulab Chandra Patel and Dhyanchand awardee Rajendra Singh who will cast their vote on Sunday.
Among other reputable voters is former Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi, who was denied a ticket from Kanpur. He will cast his vote at a convent school, which is part of Varanasi North Vidhan Sabha.