It
is truly the greatest show on Earth, an ode to a diverse & democratic
ethos, where 814 million + of humanity vote, providing their small part in
directing their ancient civilization into the future. It's not merely a show,
indeed a kind of biggest festival in India. Citizens from all walks of
life participate in this festival -Politicians, Business tycoons, cine industry
professionals, sportsperson, government employees, union workers, merchants, college students, daily wage workers, farmers
and many other folks talk politics, talk developments, talk welfare, talk good
governance, talk regional issues and talk religious priorities in this festive
season.
This
16th Loksabha General elections is being scheduled in 09 phases whereas the
last 15th loksabha elections was conducted in 05 phases. Election Commission (EC)
of India, the supreme authoritative body created under the constitution meticulously plan and schedule the electoral
process bringing many central and state government employees, teachers, forces
together for successful completion of this tedious exercise. EC is the one of
the pillars of democracy which has been given enough power to perform its
duties boldly and impartially.
Its
challenges are immense, ensuring "model code of conduct" are adhered
by the political parties, scheduling electoral dates, deploying paramilitary
forces for smooth conduct of elections, training the lakhs of electoral polling
and returning officers about Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) operations,
special training to flying squads to prevent "cash for votes", even
sending EVM and electoral officers where hardly any vehicle reaches.
Election Commission of India tried and adopted new policies to lure the voters and
ensuring that all citizens exercise the franchise. Systematic Voters Education
for Electoral Process (SVEEP) and None of the above (NOTA) option in EVM are
some of the policies to be highly appreciated. It is even more astounding that the most diverse nation on Earth,
with hundreds of parties, manifestos, languages, all religions & cultures,
is not only surviving, but thriving with the success of democracy.
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| Shyam
Saran Negi and his wife who
cast the first vote in the 1951 general election in India |
Shyam Saran Negi who cast the first vote in the 1951
general election in India — the nation's first election since the end of the British
Raj in 1947 (although the majority of the election took place in February 1952,
residents of Himachal Pradesh were given the chance to vote five months early
because of the probability that heavy snowfall would make it impossible for
citizens to reach the polling stations). Negi has voted in every general
election since 1951, and is believed to be India's oldest voter as well its
first. EC projected him as the ambassador of the SVEEP program to attract more voters to pooling
booth to exercise their franchise.
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| Ballot boxes being carried to remote terrains |
The
nation: where Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism & Sikhism were born, which is the
second largest Muslim nation on Earth; where Christianity has existed for 2000
years; where the Dalai Lama & the Tibetan government in exile reside; where
the Zoroastrians from Persia have thrived since being thrown out of their
ancient homeland; where Armenians, Syrians & many others have come to live;
where 3 Muslim Presidents have been elected, where a Sikh is Prime Minister
& the head of the ruling party a Catholic Italian woman, where the past President
was also a woman, succeeding a Muslim President who as a rocket scientist is a
hero in the nation; where a booming economy is lifting 40 million out of
poverty each year & is expected to have the majority of its population in
the middle class already, equal to the entire US population, by 2025;where its
optimism & vibrancy is manifested in its movies, arts, economic growth
& voting, despite all the incredible challenges & hardships; where all
the great powers are vying for influence, as it itself finds its place in the
world. Where all of this is happening, is India and as greater than 1/10th of humanity
gets ready to vote, it is an inspiration to the entire World.
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| Electoral Campaign |
I
was in this high octane filled election battle field in the newly formed
"Telangana" state in support of my dynamic Chairman Shri.S.R.Reddy,
contesting for Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Telugu Desam Party
(TDP) in Narayenpet Constituency, Mahabubnagar District, Telangana. (Formerly Andhra
Pradesh). Two weeks in the electoral campaigning fray, I had chance to visit
remotest hamlets of the country where my mobile phones even could not pick up
the signals even in this so called mobile network era.
Amazed
& Shocked :
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| Lambadi Tribal women in our campaign |
Elections are the time, where you have the liberty to enter each and every
house in India. Some people welcome with smile, listen our promises and
manifestos. Some don't heed our words, just wait for us to leave their house. Being raised from a political background family back in
Tamilnadu, I dint need any tutorials or corporate ice breaking sessions to melt
and gel with common people. My pleasant smile and typical Namaste with folded
hands was enough for me to be in the campaign fray. I spoke; I lectured; I
discussed; I convinced; I argued at times to the citizens about developments
and sustained livelihoods. At the end, they rightly guessed me I'm not
from their native place and a lady even tutored me how to speak grammatical
Telugu and corrected my speech.(Learning is always a pleasure for me)
 |
| Folk artist conveying the message |
Electoral
campaign was really amazing - Kids to grand old citizens actively taking part
in the campaign, sporting different party symbols. Daily wage workers turned
into seasonal party workers, youngsters on roads and streets urging for developments, folk artists dancing and singing in
hamlets conveying the party messages, 3D shows screening party president
speeches in nights, LED giant screens, contestants prerecorded voice call to the voters mobile phones pledging their promises,
helicopters flying to tier - II and tier -III cities only during elections, all
these were really fascinating.
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| Ms. Shreeja Reddy - Future leader in checked shirt and jeans |
I
literally need to commend the involvement of youngsters in this electoral
festival right from New Delhi to small hamlets. The credit to lure young
educated voters goes to BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Modi & Aam Aadmi Party
at large. I had happened to spend some days with a team of youth volunteers leaded
by young and confident small town girl - Miss. Shreeja Reddy in Narayenpet. I
find a potential leader in her in the very near future. Raised in a small
village, she clearly understood, what her constituency needs the most and
explained to each and every voter, and only an educated and visionary like our
Chairman can bring the real developments in her constituency. Her clear and
conscious speech attracted the crowds.
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| Dancing to the tunes of TDP music |
It was indeed a festival to many lower and lower middle
income people, as they have been brought up by the parties with mind set of
getting free lunch, Rs.200/- daily allowance and usually the day ends with
serving free alcohol at night till the polling date.
Touring small hamlets, villages, tribal settlements braving
the scorching sun with team of youth village volunteers headed by Ms.Shreeja
Reddy was an eye opener to me to the real and contrast rural backdrop of
socially and economically backward Telangana state. I was flabbergasted on
witnessing the helms of their life. Poor civic infrastructure, terrible roads, lack
of frequent bus facility – they largely depend on small tempos and autos,
appalling living conditions in some hamlets really touched me. Being a public
health expert specialized in community health; I even rendered on the spot medical
consultation and therapeutic advices to some chronically ill patients.
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| My election lesson |
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| Who will bring my pots of prosperity for the next five years?!! |
When there a political turmoil of slogans and bizarre sound
speakers on streets, I found a calm and composed old women in her 90’s silently
spinning the yarn in the famous Gandhi’s spinning wheel in her 100 year old
ancestral house. Impressed by her stature, I tried to strike a conversation
with her. Her fine wrinkles on her face depicted thousand tales of democracy.
She smiled at me and raised her hands and said “ma vottu cycle gorthuke babu” (My
vote is for cycle symbol – TDP election symbol) and went back to her work of
spinning the wheel. On other day, I found another old lady making earthen pots
in her potter wheel. Attracted by the political campaigns, she gracefully
turned to her side and watched us. With earthen pots and potter wheels by her
side, deep in her mind, she might be thinking of the leader who is going to
wheel her country future for the next five years and bring pots of prosperity
among them.
With the general election for 16th lok sabha
coming to an end, I look forward for the policies of real representation,
participation and empowerment among the elected politicians to the parliament
and assembly. Finally, one of the
biggest challenges for the new government will be to stop the soaring price
rise of essential commodities, universal access to quality health, ensuring
compulsory education for all children below the age of 14, instill a sense of
security among the people and more importantly making our Incredible India a
safest place for women to live…
Jai Hind….
