Colour of Democracy – VIII
Colour with Cheer
This is the final chapter in this series, with yours truly sharing with you the experience of voting for the first time, even though the entire election process is not over and there is always an urge to say more………..
Day 3 of the Election Test Match – the time to cheer. The day when young Kolkatans, besides others, express themselves. Compared to the districts, the overall turnout wasn’t too good – just about 60%. But, my city didn’t fare too badly either, especially when it came to the young brigade. Almost all of my close friends in college are now sporting the ink mark on their index fingers (no tall claims of representing the entire student community, just that drops maketh an ocean). A lot of them were first-time voters, like me. One of them was hyper-conscious of her status as a first-time voter. As a result, she got carried away on looking at the voting machine and ended up voting for the candidate who was not her original choice!! The thrills and spills of the ballot!
Whether our expressions really carry themselves through or not will only be determined after the entire affair is over. That is an issue to be considered in a different setting. But, for all of us who intend to use the ballot in future as well, one thing should be clear – everything does not end here. To be able to exercise such a constitutional right regularly, we have to ensure its proper survival. Quite a few pictures on the telly showed people like us eager to express themselves but unable to do so. So, they still remain first-time voters. Why did this happen? Errors in the system of course – by default or design. That means the system is in need of a general overhaul (yes, I am repeating it for the nth time). This surely cannot be achieved from the outside. So, it is time to probe into the innermost recesses of the system and find out the defects. This will ensure its proper functioning – for us.
This is not a clarion call to take up a “sarkari-naukri” for “desh ki seva”. This is just a reminder to shed those inhibitions, straighten those brows – to breathe new life in the body of society and be………..a little bit wise.
Colour with Cheer
This is the final chapter in this series, with yours truly sharing with you the experience of voting for the first time, even though the entire election process is not over and there is always an urge to say more………..
Day 3 of the Election Test Match – the time to cheer. The day when young Kolkatans, besides others, express themselves. Compared to the districts, the overall turnout wasn’t too good – just about 60%. But, my city didn’t fare too badly either, especially when it came to the young brigade. Almost all of my close friends in college are now sporting the ink mark on their index fingers (no tall claims of representing the entire student community, just that drops maketh an ocean). A lot of them were first-time voters, like me. One of them was hyper-conscious of her status as a first-time voter. As a result, she got carried away on looking at the voting machine and ended up voting for the candidate who was not her original choice!! The thrills and spills of the ballot!
Whether our expressions really carry themselves through or not will only be determined after the entire affair is over. That is an issue to be considered in a different setting. But, for all of us who intend to use the ballot in future as well, one thing should be clear – everything does not end here. To be able to exercise such a constitutional right regularly, we have to ensure its proper survival. Quite a few pictures on the telly showed people like us eager to express themselves but unable to do so. So, they still remain first-time voters. Why did this happen? Errors in the system of course – by default or design. That means the system is in need of a general overhaul (yes, I am repeating it for the nth time). This surely cannot be achieved from the outside. So, it is time to probe into the innermost recesses of the system and find out the defects. This will ensure its proper functioning – for us.
This is not a clarion call to take up a “sarkari-naukri” for “desh ki seva”. This is just a reminder to shed those inhibitions, straighten those brows – to breathe new life in the body of society and be………..a little bit wise.
posted by sheyalpandit at
12:56 AM
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