A Civic Duty

At a family function, some years ago, two of the eldest cousins recalled the first-ever general elections in independent India ,where as young school boys, they helped their Uncle who was a District Commissioner, conduct elections in his area. It was fun to hear of their experience, hugging on to the ballot boxes as the bullock cart made its way, kicking up a dust storm on its way to the local pooling booth! I’m sure the situation hasn’t changed too much in some parts of our country but for the rest of us it has become much easier even though our population has increased many fold.

It is election season once again in India and the past few months of campaigning, sloganeering, mud slinging and television debates have reached now reached a crescendo. As I write, several States will have finished their voting but my constituency will only go to the Polls on Monday 20th.

One of the few things I remember from my boring civics classes was that it is our responsibility to vote. And I have always voted for every election – be it a building society election or a government election. Because it is indeed a privilege to have a say in choosing something.

Of course, the result is not always what one wants and this can be disappointing.

For instance, in the last State elections, the candidate I voted for a candidate whose party politics weren’t in line with my way of thinking. But he was a candidate from an alliance party, so I voted for him and in the end, I did get my government.

Alas, within a matter of days, the alliance partners began to squabble amongst themselves and government soon unravelled. Worse still, the new government that came into power set about undoing all that the previous government had done! This was a complete waste of public time and also a complete waste of public money. For years we faced dug up roads, diversions etc while bridges were being built, underground transport being laid for better communication. And then there was a big PAUSE in all these projects but the roads were still dug and bridges half built. So now I am keeping my fingers crossed that no matter what, everything goes according to plan and the bridges are completed and the roads become navigable.

Following an example

But no matter the outcome, it is my duty to vote and vote I will. Elections are the very backbone of a democracy and whatever people may say, I am proud that our elections have been fair and regular.

Besides, I have a good example to follow.

My mum (whose story my readers already know) was taken to the Polling station by my sister-in-law who already was making a second trip since she was unable to vote in the morning when she accompanied my brother. At that time she was denied entry firstly because she had a phone ( they both had to carry a phone incase there was an emergency at home with two ailing seniors) and secondly, she hadn’t carried a medical certificate stating that she couldn’t stand for hours and needed to vote on a fast-track.

So in the blistering heat, the two women made their way to the polling station. This time round it was quite deserted and there was a rickety wheel chair available. Pushing my mum over the rough dirt track, my sister-in-law finished casting her vote and came around to help my mum with her vote.

She was rudely stopped by the Polling Official who sniggered at the explanation that my mum was visually impaired and needed assistance . ” If she has such problems why did you bring her to vote?” he sneered.

Not one to be intimidated by such behaviour, my sister-in-law immediately asked for his name and threatened to go back to the car, get her mobile and take his photo so that she could complain to the Election Commission that a senior citizen was being denied the opportunity to cast her vote because of a whimsical Polling booth official.

Immediately he backed off, but said that my mother needed special permission to request a companion etc. My sister in law volunteered to fill the requisite form ( in babu English) but not surprisingly this booth didn’t have any forms.

Luckily, another official ( a lady), figured out what was going on and allowed them to go in and my mum cast her vote.

Another friend of mine had the election officials come home to take her 97 year old father’s vote. But instead of the one man and his assistant, there was a photographer ( to record the proceedings) a policeman and 6 other assistants.

Ink your finger

Many people justify their apathy for not voting by saying that their vote hardly matters because they never really get the government they want. This is because in our electoral system it is purely numbers that matter. And despite the progress made in literacy and social upliftment, inequities still exist. This year, apart from the traditional factors like Class, Education, Caste etc , this year’s election has to contend with the unbearable heat.

So next Monday evening, I will proudly join the millions of Indians who will have a black mark on their index finger .

We Mumbaikars go to vote on the 20th and even though the polling booth is across the street it will be quite an exercise taking my 93 year old mum in law there. One of us will have to drop her off by car while the other one will have to wheel her down to the booth. In the meanwhile, the car will have to return home as parking is not allowed within 50 m of the polling station!

Wouldn’t it be much easier if we had an option to vote digitally or by post?

Well, I’ll tell you my personal experience next week.

Till then good bye and have a great weekend.

Ciao