Santhal actress challenges big guns at Binpur

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Belpahari, April 3

Not so long ago she dreamt of pairing opposite Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and achieving instant stardom. But not anymore.

She has now made up her mind to say goodbye to the celluloid world and devote time for the betterment of her people. Meet Bir Baha Hansda (33), Jharkhand Party (Naren) candidate for the Binpur (ST) seat in West Midnapore district of West Bengal. She is a successful heroine of Santhali films with 14 movies under her belt.

“Santhal movies are generally released through DVDs. But Bir Baha featured as heroine in two movies that were released in theatres,” said Jogeswar Hembram, local artiste connected with cultural activities of Santals. “She has a lot of following among the younger people who will vote for her,” Hembram said.

The switch from movies to politics has come naturally in Bir Baha’s case as she belongs to a political family. Her mother Chunibala, who was an MLA from Binpur during 2006-2011, is contesting the unreserved Jhargram seat. Bir Baha’s father late Naren Hansda won the Binpur Asembly seat twice.

“We want exploitation of tribal people to end,” Bir Baha says. The 100-day mandatory employment guarantee scheme is not properly implemented in Santhal inhabited areas of West Bengal, she says. Eligible Santhal elders are often ignored for grant of old-age pension, alleges Hansda, who is a postgraduate in political science from Calcutta University.

On her foray into the world of movies, she said she always had interest in dance forms, including Bharatnatyam. She also acted in some music videos.

Presence of Bir Baha in the race has queered the pitch for Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Khagendra Nath Hembram. Sources said sitting MLA Dibakar Hansda of the CPM had earned a reputation of being lazy and Hembram would have had it easy at Binpur. But youngsters, who ordinarily prefer the TMC, are siding with Bir Baha in the constituency. Her fan-following, coupled with the respect still enjoyed by her late father among the elders in the constituency, has helped her emerge as a strong force.