Interview with Pravin Kumar, author The Rise of Saffron Socialist

Interview with Pravin Kumar-author of the book ‘Rise of Saffron Socialist’

About the book

Rise of saffron socialist is a story of a journey full of struggle of a young boy from a small village, Panchoor of Powri district in Uttrakhand , Ajay Mohan Bisht who gets his schooling in his village further education in Rishikesh. The book narrates the story of a youth who comes to Gorakhnath temple in 1993 and becomes a Yogi , a youngest MP at the age of 26 in 1998 and emerged victorious in five successive elections–1999, 2004, 2009 and in 2011. He became Mahant of the biggest Math of Nath sect and facing wrath and adversary in his own party, court cases and even imprisonment in 2007, he ascended to the post of chief minister of the biggest state of the country.

The title of the book is very appropriate as all through his journey of life he tried to bridge the gap in social structure and strengthened the idea of ‘Vrihad Hinduasim’ while worked on equality with his initiatives like sahbhoj and giving respect to downtrodden.

Pravin Kumar

 Author –

The book ‘Rise of saffron socialist’ is written by senior journalist, Times of India,  Pravin Kumar. The book is published by Times Group Books. The first copy of the book was presented to Yogi Adityanath on 24 November 2017. The book was released at the Times Literature Festival in New Delhi on 26 November 2017.

1.                  How you conceived the idea of writing a book on CM Yogi?

I didn’t plan to write a book on Yogi and in March 2017 when he became CM, I was working on some other book and suddenly in June last 2017, I got an offer to write a book on Yogi, it was challenge but I said yes as I knew Yogi, I took his first interview in 1999 and whenever I use to go Gorakhpur during election I use to meet him at least once. As far as writing a book is concerned it is entirely different from my job as an editor or as a journalist. We reduce a 3000 word story to 250-300 words story for newspaper but it is just reverse when you are writing a book. I took the challenge as I was aware of the topic and also thought that I will have a practice of writing book.

When I started doing research for the book I found it very interesting and for next two- three months I only focused on doing research for writing book and the book was written in just 30-40 days after my research work. I had to complete the task within time limit as the book had to be launched in Times literary fest in November 2017.

2.                  You did a lot of research on Yogi what you liked in him most?

The determination of Yogi ji is specialty of his personality and one could dislike his ideas or thoughts but can’t deny that he never drifts from his thoughts. He never stops in expressing his ideas and certainly he is not a dual personality of saying something and keeping other thing in mind. Whatever he says he does.

3.                  Why you gave the name of the book ‘Rise of saffron socialist’?

When the book was launched is Delhi people asked me that saffron socialist is a kind of oxymoron and asked me to explain it. Nath sect structure is all about no discrimination and that is socialism and Yogi is the saffron brand of socialism. He doesn’t believe the cast discrimination and promote Hinduasim with socialism like he participate in sahbhoj (feast especially with people of Dalit community) and many of the employees at high positions are of scheduled caste and backward class and people of Muslim community are having shops inside the temple and even they are working inside the temple. There is no discrimination inside the temple campus on the basis of caste and even religion and in Janta Darbar the number of Muslim applicants is no less. In khichdi Mela of Gorakhnath temple at least 30-40% visitors are Muslims. The dynamics of Gorakhnath Math is what BJP is now making an effort for inclusion of dalits and backwards.

4.                  The title of your Hindi book is ‘Yodhdha Yogi’, please explain?

Apart from being socialist the other characteristic that define Yogi is a warrior (Yoddha) as he came from a very small village to a collage at Portdwar which was like a metro in that period as there were two-three factories and environment was quite different from a village so he struggled there to adjust and after that he came to Gorakhpur in the year 93-94 and that time the place was known as bad land of Uttar Pradesh due to mafias and he struggled there. He also struggled against his own party big leaders those who didn’t want him to rise and wanted him to confine only in East Uttar Pradesh and if we see on a whole we find that he is a warrior who is constant on war. He struggled for encephalitis as a politician and as an MP which is remarkable. I found that a common theme in his life is struggle. His aggressiveness is much like his Dada Guru Mahant Digvijay Nath.

5.                  You said that the big leaders of his party wanted to confine him so was he an alien in his own party?

Yes it is said. He never did politics of Lucknow as during his two decades as parliamentarian he was either in Gorakhpur or in Delhi and hardly went 2-3 times to the state capital. When manifesto of 2017 was released then Amit Shah especially ensured his presence on the stage and even the media was stunned to see him there and I think that was the indication of future as he was getting so much importance for the first time in the politics of Lucknow. I have written in my book that once he was about to resign from BJP but Adwani ji called him and he didn’t resign.

6.                  How he became a CM?

There was high mandate of 325 and RSS also wanted it as there was leader in Uttar Pradesh who could manage such a huge team of 325 MLAs and who has matching image and aura. He has not become at once as he was MP from last two decades. When I covered him in 1998 , he wanted reopening of Fertilizer plant. He is the future leader and as per the internal survey of BJP , Yogi was the most popular leader. Amit Shah and Modi decided on Yogi and RSS also gave its consent and it was not an abrupt decision to make him a chief minister.

7.                  How you found Yogi different from other Mathdheesh?

The administration of Yogi is very different as I think the Math is unique with so many institutions running under it. Amit Shah stayed at the Math for three days and minutely observed everything and I think that it was then decided about his position as chief minister.

8.                  What is the message of the book?

It is an inspirational book and if we keep side politics and religion the plot itself is very powerful and thrilling as a boy from a small village becomes mathadheesh (head of temple) of the biggest Math in Uttar Pradesh and later chief minister of the biggest state of the country. The journey from a small village to the position of CM is fascinating and the struggle is highly inspiring.

Pravin Kumar and Namita Pravin