Saturday, April 18, 2009

INK IS IN

The ink on your index finger is suddenly IN. Because it IN-dicates that you have exercised your right to vote. Because it shows your IN-clination: you care for the future of this nation. Because it is an assertion of your citizenship – your identity as an IN-dian.

In the elections this time, because of the model code of conduct enforced by the Election Commission, there has a marked absence of posters, pamphlets, wall-paintings, sloganeering; all the loud and colourful accompaniments to the political juggernaut.

Instead, there has been a lot of visibility given to citizen groups and NGOs like Jaago Re, groups of people asking other people to come and vote. Celebrities are urging us to use the finger (not oily-smiley politicians mock-humbly begging for votes with folded hands). The inky finger has become the hottest fashion accessory.

The first round voting turnout was 58-62% - not bad. The rural populace, stoical, suffering, yet upright, has always exercised its franchise. It is the urban upwardly-mobile class that was accused of distancing itself from the democratic duty of voting. The designer sunglasses and the headphones clamped to the ears blocked the sights and sounds of the Real India. Now that the upward mobility has been halted in the tracks somewhat, perhaps there is time to look at the bigger picture.

The picture that includes all of India – the hut and the high-rise, the yuppy and the yokel. We will not be able to change this picture substantially, but, if we vote, we will be able to put our own mark on it.

So, let’s go vote. But let us think before we ink. And let us not forget that voting should be a matter of INFORMED CHOICE. Therein lies the true worth and power of that tiny dot of ink.

7 comments:

Lazyani said...

You are very right Sucharita. The dot has immense power, specially in our present hopeless scenario. That's the only way we are heard.

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Deepanjan Ghosh said...

My company (Radio Mirchi) has a couple of campaigns on too. "Dot Hai To Hot Hai" and the Bleed India Movement. Check out www.bleedindia.com

Sumandebray said...

Great! This time the election is Special. We should look forward to change. We have some faces joining for the first time. We see people with professional degree as their credentials joining the fray with a zeal to serve the ocuntry.
Thanks!

Pinku said...

jai ho!!!!

to your wishes..

pradipwritenow said...

There is no vote for us. we the people are "of the people" who move from one end to other end "for the people" for indian resources but can not enjoy the voting right enjoyed "by the people" of india because their voting rights can only be excercised when they be happen to be in their so called "hometown". Sharmistha Deb wrote a blog on this topic( whimsandwishes.blog.co.in). Jagore India for Us, Jago for us.

Sucharita Sarkar said...

Lazyani,

It's like a pointillist painting...so many dots together make the real picture.

Future mantra,

thanks.

Double-D,

the dot is really hot now, and the hor iron is ready to strike, as the proverb says.

Suman,

Let's hope that the 'professional' touch changes the red-tapism even a tiny bit.

Pinku,

I second that.

Pradipda,

I did read Sharmistha's post on the plight of the uprooted non-voter, and your comment there. You are both right, the voting process needs to be easier and 'smarter' to enable the Indian-on-the-move to have a voice in the electoral process.