ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relationships between hero-gods, rebels and democratic politics. It shows how hero-gods are localized and ancient kings are contemporized in the Gujjar political arena. Hero-gods, ancient and medieval kings and rebels are used to legitimize Gujjar political leader activities, their muscular and violent political style and their roles as leaders in local and the OBCs politics. By relating Devnarayan Bhagvan, Mihir Bhoj (the divine king), and modern rebels (including freedom fighters) to the modern democratic political world, the Gujjar political rhetoric appeals to contemporary Gujjar political interests and simultaneously helps the formation of all-India Gujjar community. The most importantly, the Gujjar political rhetoric presents a seamless time in which past and present, and divines and humans come together and mix up with each other. Everyday political discourses and rhetoric blur boundaries between myths, memory, past, history and ‘present’.
