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Shambhavi, the 25-year-old Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidate from the Samastipur Lok Sabha constituency, comes from a political family. She studied sociology at Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College, New Delhi, and Delhi School of Economics (DSE), and appeared for the UPSC exam once. Likely to be pitted against her in Samastipur is Sunny Hazari of the Congress, whose father Maheshwar Hazari is a minister in the Nitish Kumar government, just like her father Ashok Choudhary. Both Hazari and Choudhary are Janata Dal (United) leaders. The daughter-in-law of former IPS officer Kishore Kunal, Shambhavi tells The Indian Express that she believes politics is a field where she can represent other Dalit women like her who do not have the privilege to join politics. Excerpts from the interview:
I come from a family that has been in politics for more than 50 years. My grandfather was an MLA for several terms and my father Ashok Choudhary is a minister in the Bihar government. I went to Notre Dame Academy, Patna, and scored 98% in Class XII. Then I pursued BA (with sociology honours) at LSR in Delhi, after which I completed MA in sociology from DSE. Then I decided to sit for the UPSC exam and took tuitions for it. I couldn’t clear the exam in my first attempt, which happened online during the peak Covid-19 period in October 2020. That’s when I thought of joining politics. I also got married a year ago.
I want to be an agent of change. More than working in an NGO, you can change things as a politician, as you get to represent people.
I am a Dalit woman. Other women from my community may not have the privilege or opportunity to do what I am doing. I want to become the voice of women, particularly Dalit women. It is true that a political background creates a passage into politics but you have to prove yourself every five years. Else, you will fall irrespective of your political pedigree.
I want to focus on my constituency. Many people believe that you should be stationed where Parliament is. I feel that power comes from the people. There is a connectivity problem in Samastipur in terms of roads and highways. I want a polytechnic college for women here. Also important is a focus on agriculture in terms of irrigation, crop insurance and MSP. Another focus will be MNREGA, as there are lots of labourers here.
In current Bihar politics, not many people give the opportunity to young people. We have had a personal relationship with Chirag bhaiyya. I told him I wanted to contest from Samastipur and he gave me a chance. No other party is fielding youngsters, particularly young women. I also like Chirag bhaiyya’s focus on Bihar and Biharis first. In DU, my professor told me I don’t look like a Bihari. It struck me – what should a Bihari look like?
I was always very conscious of my caste roots. It has always been with me. I fell in love with a person of a higher caste and we got married. I didn’t even know his caste when we met. It wasn’t important at all. At the same time, my father-in-law (a Bhumihar) has been saying “Dalit Devo Bhavah (Dalit is God)” and has appointed the first Dalit priest in the area.
My favourite sociologist is Professor M N Srinivas. He did path-breaking work on caste.
I’m an animal lover. I want to be in the company of my dogs. I feed 250 stray dogs each day. I like baking and also enjoy watching movies. I do not have favourite actors as such, but I think Vicky Kaushal is very impressive as an actor.