In the age of assertion of one’s identity, public image, perception or the actual character of the person does not matter anymore to his supporters, followers and all those who identify with him, believing him to be “one among them” who can commit no wrong. What matters is just the “identity”. It washes off everything else.
On October 29, ‘dreaded’ gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was “unanimously elected” president of the youth wing of the All India Bishnoi Animal Protection Samaj. Lawrence Bishnoi’s claim to “fame” is his “criminal record” spread across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and also Canada.
While earlier his name would figure in various criminal incidents, including some heinous ones, he rose in the “criminal ranks” after his group owned the killing of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022. Since then there has been no “looking back” for the gang-lord in the world of crime.
Recently, his group claimed the killing of Baba Siddique, a Mumbai politician, who was known for his proximity to Bollywood film stars, including Salman Khan. Khan is being held responsible by the Bishnoi community for the killing of a black person, a charge Khan has vehemently denied. Siddique was allegedly killed for his closeness with Khan.
Bishnoi, during a televised interview, from jail, which is under probe, went on record with his threat to Salman Khan, saying that he was not remorseful of killing the blackbuck, which is held in divine respect by the Bishnoi community.
Bishnoi again came into the limelight when the Canadian government named him alleging that he was the masterminding the crime in Canada including some targeted attacks. The Canadian government is alleging a link between Bishnoi and the killing of Hardeep Nijjer, which has led to severe strain in diplomatic relations between India and Canada.
Bishnoi, right now is in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat, where he was shifted just a few months ago. He has been imprisoned since 2015 and is accused of masterminding the attacks, killings and ransom calls from inside the jail. So much so, he also managed to give an hour-long interview to a national television channel from inside the jail, which is currently being investigated.
A few cops have also been suspended for that.
Bishnoi is not the first person with a “criminal” record who is being glorified and deified by his community members. “Your terrorist is my hero and vice versa”, as goes the saying.
This is reflective of the strong impact a “sense of belonging” and “identity” can have on the thinking of an entire community or group of people. In the past also, there have been similar examples.
Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, who is glorified as a saint by a section of people, who address him as a ‘Sant’ (saint), is held responsible for killing of many innocent people, including Hindus and Sikhs during the militancy in Punjab.
His supporters do not believe that he had ordered even a single killing, while he is on record having threatened the government of India that in case it did not release his men, he would kill ‘5000’ Hindus. The video of this threat is available on social media.
Similarly, the killers of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi are also glorified and special memorial services are held on their death anniversaries. So are those of the assassins of former Chief of Army Staff, General Vaidya and former Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh.
There are some supporters of Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. Sadhvi Pragya, a former BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh, had publicly glorified Godse, while being an MP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that he can never forgive her for that. Eventually, she was dropped and did not get the party ticket in the 2024 General Elections.
There are umpteen similar examples, where people glorify their “heroes”, who are villains for others. They either tend to deny the crimes of their “heroes” or seek to justify them.
Time may not be far, when Lawrence Bishnoi may contest an election to some state legislature or the parliament. And in all probability, he may even emerge victorious also. He may be a dreaded gangster, and in jail for over a decade, but he has not been convicted by any court of law so far. This makes him eligible to contest elections.
There are many examples in the past where the “gangsters” have fought elections from inside the jail and won, like in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
However, Bisnhoi’s case is a little different. While in the case of the gangsters in Bihar and UP, the “gangsters” would win using their “criminal clout” of intimidation and muscle power, in Bishnoi’s case, if he ever decides to fight an election, he will be the hero of his community. And he is gaining a fan following with every passing day.
This reflects poorly on society as a whole, where an “anti-hero” is fast turning into a “popular” hero just because the community he belongs to believes him to be innocent despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary.
It's probably because society lacks real heroes and they don’t make them anymore.
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