Legislator drives Toto to reach out tothe people TIRTHANKAR MITRA KOLKATA, 19JUNE Asdoorsandwindows opened abit tohave alookat what is the source of noise at the doorsteps, the people were at aloss forwords. Itis theirvery own legislator, Manoranjan Byapariat the helmof a Toto who has come amidst driving rain to know howthose who voted for and against him are coping with theinclement weather. There is not a whit of showmanship in Byapari’s act. Dropping in at the peo- ple’s door step is apart of the election promisesofthisTri- namul Congress MLA fr Balagarh. Byapari had promised respect for his fellow beings togetherwithfood, clothesand a roof above their heads; none of which he thinks is a tall order. Small wonder, he doesnot consider travelling in theraintobe an uphill task. When he drove to the office of the sub- divisional officer tosubmit his election nom- ination on acyclerickshaw, Byaparisentamessage loud and clear. Notwithstanding beinga bestsellingauthor and chairman, Dalit Sahitya Acad- emy herepresented the mar- ginal men. Buying the Toto with resources from party activists and the common people, he its the people comerain or shine, Itis aroutine fromwh- ich Byapari does not deviate. His visits area pleasant sur- prise to the peopleof Balagarh as Byapari continues with HE UBES Be his lonely trek down rural roadsskirting ponds.Ata time when most prefer to be indoors as skies have opened up, lightning flash and thunder booms, his voters didnot reck- on their legislator paying thema call. ButByapar isanexception. Refugeed from erstwhile East Pakistan, taking up washing dishes to make a living and then driftingto radical Left pol- itics which earned him a prison term, he is merely performingan article of faith ~ serving the people. https: //epaper . thestatesman. com/c/6127607" & The State: ae is 20 June 2021