My confidence comes from my adivasi DNA: Kalpana Soren

Interview/ Kalpana Soren, JMM Leader

A heat wave is sweeping across the rocky terrain of Giridih, situated in the North Chotanagpur region of Jharkhand. The mango trees outside the guest house where Kalpana Soren is staying are laden with unripe fruit, their branches swaying and swooshing, and some small mangoes fall to the ground, wrested by the winds.

Undeterred by the heat, Kalpana is set to leave for campaigning in Gandey assembly seat, a predominantly rural constituency in Giridih district. As she steps out of her room, party workers rush to meet her. Dressed in a pastel pink sari, she is understated in her style, but warm and cheerful in her demeanour. She greets party workers with folded hands, listens to them patiently, passes on their concerns to her aides for redress, and seeks their support in the election campaign.

Kalpana sat down for her first ever interview on April 30, a day after filing her nomination papers. She speaks about the day her husband, former chief minister Hemant Soren, was arrested, her entry into politics, her husband’s pep talk from behind the bars and the upcoming challenges. She says she will continue to be in politics. Edited excerpts from the interview:

Q/ Did you ever think that you will make a political speech or fight an election someday?

A/ Not really. I was living in a political atmosphere―my husband and my father-in-law are there, my whole family is in it. But I was busy taking care of the family, my kids, my husband. Because my husband was very busy, I thought one person should be at the forefront in the political arena, and one person should look after the family because both my in-laws are getting old.

Q/ Did Hemant Soren’s arrest come as a shock or were you mentally prepared?

A/ The Enforcement Direcorate officers came to our home on January 20, and on January 31, they came again for interrogation. We thought they would do their interrogation and go. But suddenly they said they were going to arrest him. It was evening. We were shocked. It was a sudden blow to us. We were not in a very good state of mind, not sure what to do. But sir (Hemant) handled the situation well. He gave his resignation letter and the letter of support for the new government. Sir may have a very strong heart and mind, but that night, I was petrified.... My kids were not able to understand [what was happening]. My elder son went with me to the ED office, and we came back late in the night, around 2am.

Q/ The prime minister talks about going after the corrupt, and he has named your husband as being among them.

A/ The land in question is Bhumihari. It cannot be sold or purchased. The ownership cannot be transferred. So how can Hemant Soren be the owner of that land? Second, we have not been given any documents. If they are saying he is corrupt, just show us the proof.

Q/ When your husband was arrested, political observers said the JMM would disintegrate.

A/ Before 2019, the BJP government was there, and they used to call it a double-engine sarkar. If people were satisfied, why did they choose Hemant ji and the INDIA bloc parties? The BJP did not have programmes for girls and women or for food or pension. And that is why they are afraid of Hemant ji. We are strong, mentally, physically and emotionally. We are fighting this election confidently and we will win all 14 seats.

Q/ At the time of his arrest, it was speculated that Hemant Soren wanted you to become chief minister.

A/ Hemant ji proposed the name of our senior leader Champai Soren ji, and now he is leading our state. He is the chief minister and we are so happy that under his guidance, we are fulfilling all the dreams of Hemant ji.

Q/ So that possibility was not discussed?

A/ No, not at all.

Q/ You are from Mayurbhanj in Odisha, the home district of President Murmu. Have you met her?

A/ She was governor of Jharkhand. And we used to meet on occasion. We really admire her, especially since she is a tribal person. She is very genuine, humble and approachable.

Q/ The Modi government projects President Murmu as a mascot for its work for the adivasi community.

A/ I really respect President Murmu. But, talking about the Central government, when the Manipur incident happened, it had a deep impact on every adivasi person. Manipur is still burning. On that topic, no one is saying anything. It is a question of the asmita (pride) and astitva (existence) of the tribal people as well.

Q/ Hemant Soren has a quiet demeanour. And you come across just the opposite.

A/ My confidence comes from the adivasi DNA. I draw confidence from my parents, my father-in-law, my mother-in-law and my husband. We may be different, but we are together in this fight, and the family is together. This situation has made us think about what is important for us, whether we have to be ourselves or merge with someone else. We have chosen to be ourselves.

Q/ Your sister-in-law Sita Soren has joined the BJP.

A/ My sister-in-law is elder to me and is mature enough to take her decisions. I don’t want to comment on whatever she has done. I just want to extend my best wishes to her.

Q/ You met Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita, at the INDIA bloc rally in Delhi. It must have been an emotional moment for you both.

A/ We spoke about the need to stay strong. Hemant ji and Kejriwal ji did not bow, so how can we bend? When she came to Ranchi, she told me, ‘We are with you. Arvind Kejriwal ji is with Jharkhand’. When Delhi faced oxygen shortage during the pandemic, Hemant ji had sent oxygen cylinders from here. We have that connection. INDIA parties support each other. We have the human spirit, we have humanity.

Q/ At the rally, Sonia Gandhi sat with you and Sunita Kejriwal.

A/ It was my first meeting with her. I was so excited and thrilled because she is also a warrior, [considering] the circumstances she has been through in her life. She is an inspiration to every woman.

Q/ Are you ready to become chief minister?

A/ Right now, my focus is on the people of Gandey.

Q/ Will you continue in politics, or are you just stepping in for your husband?

A/ I will definitely continue. I know I can do this.

Full interview at theweek.in