May 10, 1999
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ORISSA Kalinga Son Rise Young and ambitious, the chief minister's son Shishir prepares to enter public life in keeping with the state tradition of perpetuating dynasties. By Ruben Banerjee
In a state known for politicians encouraging their children to follow in their footsteps and perpetuate their political dynasties, the grooming of Shishir came as no surprise. Among the more well-known sons of former chief ministers are Biju Janata Dal President Naveen, son of Biju Patnaik; Tathagatha, son of Nandini Satpathy; Bhartuhari, son of Harekrushna Mahtab; and Bijoysree, son of Nilamani Routray. With Shishir bursting into the limelight, the tribe has only grown. "Politics runs in my blood," explains the portly Shishir, a commerce graduate from Sydenham College, Mumbai. His father apart, grandfather Bhagirathi Gomango has been a longstanding member of the Orissa Assembly since 1967. Uncle Bijoy is the zilla parishad chairman of Raygada in home district Koraput and mother Hema is all set to take the electoral plunge by contesting from backward Koraput, the seat her husband is relinquishing after representing it for the past eight terms. "Born to such a family," continues Shishir, "it has always been a case of eat politics, drink politics and sleep politics for me." But his father's gruelling routine allows him very little sleep these days. "You could say I am learning the ropes well. I have got used to the hectic schedule," he says. The day begins early with Shishir meeting people from the constituency. He hears out their grievances and screens visitors queuing up to meet the chief minister. The rest of the day is largely dictated by what Gamang does. Late into the night, a brainstorming session is held during which Gamang, Shishir and one or two confidants discuss strategy, review the day's work and plan for the next. In the thick of things, Shishir is getting increasingly noticed. His presence is all the more pronounced since Bhubaneswar had hardly seen him till his father's return to Orissa following his elevation as chief minister. Though Gamang has been a Union minister several times in the past, Shishir was too young and away in school in places like Roorkee, Bangalore and Mussorie. His sudden emergence is, therefore, being seen as a prelude to the plunge. "But he is just an upstart," snaps a dismissive inhouse rival. Shishir will, however, have to wait for two more years to contest elections -- 25 is the minimum eligible age. His plans till then include doing an MBA from Indira Gandhi Open University and taking up membership of the National Students' Union of India, the Congress' students wing. The scheme fits in perfectly in a state where pedigree matters and surnames spell electoral magic. Of the 21 MPs from Orissa in the just dissolved Lok Sabha, at least eight were essentially there because of the political importance of their surnames. The same is true of the 147-member state Assembly, where the USP of at least 30 legislators is such kinship. "Zamindars are a thing of the past. What we have instead is a new class of political overlords," rues Anup Kumar Dash, a sociologist with Utkal University. But Shishir is unmindful of such comments. "I am uniquely placed," he smiles. "Being the chief minister's son is my monopoly and nobody can snatch that away from me." He feels he is one up on the other rising sons. "While they are sons of former chief ministers, I am a serving chief minister's son." But for how long? That hardly matters. Shishir hopes to soon have a standing of his own -- whether Gamang remains chief minister or not. |
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On the face of it, the lavish party hosted by Orissa
Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang on the lawns of the Bhubaneswar Club last week seemed like
any other thrown by the state's politicians to pamper the press. It was seen as part of
Gamang's efforts to woo the media in the wake of the bad press he received on his
controversial vote in Parliament that brought down the 13-month old Atal Bihari Vajpayee
government. But as the evening went on with waiters refilling glasses and ghazals wafting
through the air, the real reason for the occasion became clear: the chief minister was
introducing son Shishir to the press and paving the way for his eventual plunge into
public life. 
Not
that the 23-year-old Shishir needed an introduction. The eldest of Gamang's three
children, Shishir has been a permanent fixture on his father's side for some time now.
Ever since Gamang took over as chief minister two months ago, Shishir has been
accompanying him wherever he goes. In fact, the media has all along been speculating about
another "rising son". 
