Sananda Marandi is now the Deputy Speaker of the Odisha legislative Assembly. He was initiated into politics from his student days with a stint in the All Jharkhand Students’ Union. He was first elected to the Assembly on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from the erstwhile Kuliana constituency in Mayurbhanj district in 2004 when the BJP had an alliance with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). However, after the BJD-BJP coalition ended, he joined the BJD and has been elected from the Baripada Assembly constituency in 2009 and 2014. Sananda’s etymological meaning is a person imbued with happiness, and he has charity to all and malice to none. As Deputy Speaker, he has enough iron behind his soul and keeps his cool while remaining unruffled even when the crescendo of tumultuous scenes leads to pandemonium in the House. He then becomes stern and stubborn and brings the House to order without being harsh and intimidating. A democrat to his boots, Marandi shares his thoughts with Voltaire, who has said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I shall defend unto my death your right to say so.” In an interview to The Pioneer, he spoke to Sugyan Choudhury from his cloistered residence in Bhubaneswar.
How did you come into the domain of public lifeIJ
I was a student of the MPC College, Baripada, which happens to be the biggest college of the district. During our days, there was a kind of difference between the Adivasis and the Non-Adivasis in our area. The non-Adivasi students of the college never allowed any Adivasi student to contest the college elections. They had also prevented me from contesting the college election, but I cared a fig for them. I contested despite their obstructions. Of course, I was defeated, but it had raised a hope and unleashed a wave of confidence among my tribal brothers that we can also contest the election. In 1986, a person called Nirmal Mahant created an outfit in the name of All Jharkhand Students’ Union and a person called Surjitsingh Besra remained in its charge. In 1986, Besra had visited our college campus and addressed the students in front of the college hostels. He had spread the awareness among the Adivasi students about their rights and duties. Having been impressed by his logic, I had joined the All Jharkhand Students’ Union in 1987 along with many other youths of the district. This is how my career in politics and public life began.
Which community of Adivasis you do representIJ
I am from the Santal community. You know Santals not only live in Mayurbhanj and other districts of Odisha but they also inhabit in large parts of Assam, undivided Madhya Pradesh and in four districts of West Bengal. Today, the Santals are around 1.5 crore in the whole country. I am proud of the community and feel happy for being the numero uno Deputy Speaker of a State Assembly in the country.
Recently, you went to Rourkela to attend a seminar on the Santali language. What was the discussion held thereIJ
The deliberations at Rourkela were on the growth and development of the Santali language. You know the Santali language is the most developed language among the Adivasis. Pandit Raghunath Murmu had lent his entire life for the Santali script called Ol Chiki. After his demise, a number of poets, writers of the language created history by their persistent demand for learning the language. Consequently, Santali has been included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian constitution.
What do you think about the development of the Adivasis in generalIJ
The development of the community lies in the development of their mother language. If the community is given opportunity to learn in their own other languages then a total development of the Adivasi people will be possible.
We have seen Rahul Gandhi sharing some of his times with Adivasi community people. Has Naveenbabu done the same at any point of timeIJYou
see, some people do something as a means to an end to garner cheap popularity. Naveenbabu during his nearly sixteen years of rule has taken up such plans, programmes and ambitious projects for the upliftment of Adivasi people in such a grand way that it has become the role model for other Chief Ministers of the country. He has taken up innumerable programmes for our Adivasi people giving a lot of emphasis in the education sector, for which he will ever remain the great messiah for the tribal communities of our State.
You are the Chairman of the Assembly Rehabilitation Committee. The displaced persons of the Hirakud Dam Project have not yet been fully rehabilitated. Besides, there has been a mad rush of industrialist to our State. How do you think to carry on the jobIJ
Rehabilitation works are going on quite satisfactorily. The State Government’s new rehabilitation policy is very ideal. Of course, all said and done, there are lapses in the job. If the Government gives employment to the affected ones besides giving them lands at other places then that would be the real solution to the problem. As you know, the developed States have introduced land banking, which when given chances, will solve the issue to a great deal.
You are also the Chairman of the Amenities Committee. What packages are there for the ex-M.l.AsIJ
Most of the former MlAs have met me and complained about their health hazards, for which we have set up a three-member committee under the chairmanship of MlA Amar Satpathy. After having made an in-depth inquiry by studying about it in other States, the committee has recommended for providing healthcare assistance to them in the shape of cash. This proposal is pending in the Department of Parliamentary Affairs and a decision will be taken soon.
As per the Constitution, the chair should be always fair and should work impartially. How far is it practicable in the OlAIJ
I will not disagree with you in this regard. The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House should work impartially. That is what is being done in the OlA. But look, the way the members in the Assemblies and in the Parliament in the country are doing (things) is not a good sign for a healthy democracy. The legislative Assembly is the temple of democracy and the sanctity of the House should be maintained. I personally share my views with Voltaire, who has said, “I may not agree with you what you say, but I shall defend unto my death your right to say so.”