The Voting Day Euphoria!

I was more than excited for 17th of April 2014 over the last few weeks, as it happened to be the poling day in Pune for the 2014 general elections. And this led to checking for my name in the updated voter list for more than three occasions, I also happened to do a recee of the Indira Gandhi Primary School, that was my scheduled polling booth, as if the school will somehow cease to exist. And not to miss I have been brainwashing my maids, society security personnel as well about the importance of not just voting but voting for a change.

 

But this excitement was not just about getting inked or deriving pleasure by pressing the EVM button, it stemmed from the ongoing frustration about the kind of life we have been leading in the last 5 years, rather 10 years to be precise. And this dubious list of reason is too long and well known to be captured in a write-up like this but the only thing that a common man like me can do to protest against such a despondent governance is to exercise ones right to vote, vote for a change and inspire people around us to do so. Because, unless we exercise this right judiciously we don't have a right to crib for the next five years.

 

So when the much awaited day of 17th April arrived, despite a declared holiday, we got ready early in the morning and set out to exercise our weapon. But the scene across the streets and especially in my polling booth was unbelievable, people have not only thronged in huge no's to cast their vote but their exuberance was worth appreciating too. So much so that most of the people that have come around not only carried their voter id card but were equipped with their Aadhar cards, ration cards, driving licenses and passports too, just in case their names are in the voter list, they will do come what may to furnish all kinds of proofs to prove themselves as an eligible voter and exercise their right. There was stern resolve, a sense of determination in every voters face, that clearly signified a message of 'its my day and its my country'.

 

Though, there were incidents of cash distribution in some of my friend's polling stations, up to the extent of Rs.10,000/- for the educated and Rs. 5,000/- for the uneducated ones. But this was pretty much on the expected lines, as I have been hearing about my maids being paid Rs. 500/- to attend some political rally last week, silk saris being sold for throw away prices that had wrappers of the contesting candidates and lavish dinner been thrown by the same candidates to woo voters from the posh residential societies. But the best part was that despite all such attempts neither the folks who were offered up to Rs.10,000/-, nor the maids who were wowed by the cash and kind nor the elite class who were lured by such gestures were shaken in their resolve to vote for a change. Everybody had the same thing to say, 'we are not fools to get trapped for five more years by such irreverent freebies'. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the logic given by one of friends after accepting Rs10,000/- from one such tout, he said, 'see I have anyways voted for the one I wanted to and I am also sure that even if a new guy comes in he wont be any different, so its better I take this amount and use it in paying it back to them while getting any of my official work done, which is by all means an undocumented but a mandatory practice now'. Such is the acumen of today's voter:-)!

All said and done, exercising ones right to vote gives an immense sense of pride and a kick of sorts, that we have done our bit in choosing wisely for a better tomorrow. It can be rightfully argued that all the political parties and leaders are one and the same but even if the new guy is also equally bad we can at least console ourselves by the fact that we have not repeated our mistakes by not voting and letting the same guy ruin our lives for five more years. Let us all hope that more and more people rightfully vote this time around and contribute towards a better India!

Don't just vote but vote smartly!

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