Partha Sarathi Mahato

Smita Khator

Translator

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My grandmother, Bhabani Mahato&#39;s fight for our freedoms began with the fight to liberate her desh [country] from the angrez [British]. We finally achieved the desired freedom. Since then my thhakuma Bhabani Mahato (seated in the centre in the photo above) has been exercising her hard-earned democratic right. (Seated on her right is her sister, Urmila Mahato and on her left is her grandson, Partha Sarathi Mahato.)Even
 the 2024 General Election has not been an exception for her. She is 
nearly 106 years old, her health is fragile, but she is in full spirit 
when it comes to her right to vote. She is able to see and hear quite 
well, however, her hands are not strong enough. So she asked me to help 
her out. Our village, Chepua in Manbazar I block in Puruliya (also 
spelt Purulia) district of West Bengal, votes on 25th May. But under the
 Election Commission&#39;s Home Voting provision for senior citizens above 
85 years, she voted today (May 18, 2024) at her home in Chepua.  With
 necessary approval from the polling officers, I assisted her with the 
process. As soon as the polling party left, she started reminiscing 
about the old days.She began with how things were during the British 
rule and gradually moved forward to present day and ended her story.Hearing this story I once again felt very proud of my thhakuma [paternal grandmother].To read more about the revolutionary Bhabani Mahato, read P. Sainath&#39;s, <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/when-bhabani-mahato-fed-the-revolution/">When Bhabani Mahato fed the revolution</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pranab Kumar Mahato.

Freedom fighter Bhabani Mahato votes in 2024

مجاہدہ آزادی بھوانی مہتو نے ۲۰۲۴ میں ووٹ دیا

2024లో వోటు వేసిన స్వాతంత్ర్య సమరయోధురాలు భవానీ మహాతో

2024ல் வாக்களிக்கும் சுதந்திரப் போராட்ட வீரர் பபானி மஹாதோ

ਸੁਤੰਤਰਤਾ ਸੈਨਾਨੀ ਭਬਾਨੀ ਮਾਹਾਤੋ ਨੇ 2024 ਦੀਆਂ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਈ ਵੋਟ

୨୦୨୪ରେ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ ଭବାନୀ ମାହାତୋଙ୍କର ଭୋଟ୍ ଦାନ

स्वातंत्र्यसैनिक भबानी महातोंचं आणखी एक मतदान

സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യസമര സേനാനി ഭവാനി മഹാതോ 2024-ൽ വോട്ട് ചെയ്യുന്നു

2024ರ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ ಚಲಾಯಿಸಿದ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಹೋರಾಟಗಾರ್ತಿ ಭಬಾನಿ ಮಹತೋ

स्वतंत्रता सेनानी भवानी महतो का मतदान

2024માં સ્વતંત્રતા સેનાની ભવાની મહતોનું  મતદાન

स्वतंत्रता सेनानी भबानी महतो डारिस वोट

स्वतंत्रता सेनानी भबानी महतो 2024 में मतदान कईली

মুক্তিযুঁজাৰু ভৱানী মাহাতোৱে ২০২৪ৰ নিৰ্বাচনত ভোট দিলে

স্বাধীনতা সংগ্রামী ভবানী মাহাতো ভোট দিলেন গণতন্ত্রের পক্ষে

Puruliya, West Bengal, India

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Freedom fighter Bhabani Mahato votes in 2024

The brave and unassuming Bhabani Mahato, farmed, cooked and fed her family and other revolutionaries through decades of India's historic struggle for Independence. Now nearly 106 years of age, she carries on the fight...casting her vote in the General Elections 2024

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