THE FISH-RICE OF RAM’S NISHADS OUTWEIGHTED THRE FISH-RICE OF THE SON OF MALLAH

THE FISH-RICE OF RAM’S NISHADS OUTWEIGHTED THRE FISH-RICE OF THE SON OF MALLAH

20-NOV-ENG 19

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------Renowned for its courage and devotion to duty, the Nishad community of Lord Ram's childhood friend, Nishad Raj Ji, is a pillar of Hinduism. This community has made significant contributions not only to the economic but also to the social structure. However, during the election campaign, a web of propaganda was woven on social media for several days, attempting to separate the Mallahs from Hinduism. The opposition party, led by VIP chief Mukesh Sahni, popularly known as the "Son of Mallah," made the identity symbol of fish rice a central focus of the election campaign. Meanwhile, the BJP, led by Hari Sahni, as the Nishad of Ram, reached out to the public through the Makhana Kheer. Hari Sahni played symbolic politics by connecting the pain and identity of the Nishad community with their identity. Hari Sahni sought to make senior BJP leaders and the general public feel the struggle of the Mallah community. This conflict wasn't just about cuisine, but rather a strategy to influence social groups. The Bihar election results have sent a clear message that fish-rice is merely an election slogan, while makhana kheer is a political message. The message is clear: an attempt is being made to transform caste conflict into religious-cultural unity. For the public, this represents a victory for cultural symbols, along with schemes and development slogans. By mentioning makhana kheer, Hari Sahni conveyed the message that the Nishad community is no longer voting solely on the basis of economic factors, but rather on the basis of culture, identity, and pride. Bihar's voters have wisely conveyed a political and cultural message: the Mallah community of Bihar has transformed its identity, rooted in caste, into a religious and emotional victory. The 2025 Bihar elections have demonstrated that the Nishad/Mallah identity is not merely a means of building a vote bank, but has become a demand for political recognition and social respect. This conflict symbolized the larger picture of Bihar. It became clear that politics would no longer be determined solely by schemes, but by layers of emotion, symbolism, and culture. The Bihar elections proved that Hinduism, especially the entire Nishad community, including the Bhoi, Kahar, Kewat, and Mallah, revered Lord Ram.