And the award goes to Hemlal Murmu… Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Nov. 20: If you work under the shadow of Lenin from a hall named after the Bolshevik revolutionary, chances are that your contribution will not go unnoticed. Provided you are sufficiently inspired by the life and work of Vladimir Ulyanov in a state ruled by the rightwing BJP.

For the second successive year, the Birsa Munda Award for Best Legislator has gone to a person who swears by Communism. The difference is that while Nala MLA Visheshwar Khan, who bagged the coveted prize when it was started last year, is a cardholder of the Communist Party of India, the award this time has gone to JMM’s Hemlal Murmu, who began his political career as an activist of the CPI and remained with the Left party for 18 years.

The Jharkhand Assembly functions from Lenin Hall, which used to be an immensely popular club during the good days of the now-ailing HEC, set up with Soviet assistance. A plaque commemorating Lenin’s birth anniversary still stands guard at the gate of the Assembly.

Murmu, who turned 50 in August, by his own admission has had three leading inspirations in his politics — Karl Marx, Lenin and Jharkhand’s very own Sibu Soren. But unlike the trio, the JMM legislator, who represents Barhet in Godda district, does not sport a beard.

He will be conferred the award by Governor M. Rama Jois on the Assembly premises on Friday morning when the legislature celebrates its second anniversary.

Murmu, who is representing Barhet for the third time, is a soft-spoken person with acumen for making friends. His interventions on the floor have been informative and hardly ever lacking in sound homework.

“The Telegraph has broken the news to me. I am overwhelmed. Tears have welled up in my eyes. The credit goes to the poor people of my constituency who have supported me despite all odds,” Murmu said.