I still remember that autumn of 1999. Along with other students in my undergrad college, we went as a group to Ziro to participate in the elections. A unique trait in the rural areas ( as also in most other areas) during elections is to divide the votes on the basis of the locality the candidate is from. Hence, when we went there, it was already decided who will be the one getting all our votes.
When we reached there however, the same night we were told to 'be prepared' as some people were overheard talking about attacking our group at night! I thought, "What the hell!" Turned out there had been some tension brewing at the time what with a car reportedly damaged and burnt the previous evening.
The next morning, as we were taking a walk post our breakfast, we came across a classmate of mine, same college, but who was from a different locality and hence supporting a different candidate. We met him and we din't even talk properly! And to think that we always hangout together back in the college.
That was when I had once decided that I am never ever taking part in any election in my lifetime. The time has come around when elections are taking a huge chunk of media and I can't keep myself insulated from it. Also, this time it is noticeably an effort to educate voters on the candidates they will be electing to the Parliament and I appreciate the celebrities taking time out for doing this.
This time it won't be possible for me to go back home and vote , but now it is starting to seem more like the decision to abstain from it lifelong was a rather brash decision, taken without the benefit of my wisdom as it grows with age :) Or is it?
Have been hearing about no one having the ability to dodge political affiliations as one tries to shimmy up the social ladder, is it so? Will I be able to keep myself sane? Or should I be instead taking a more active role to ensure that the elections throw up a worthier elected assembly?
Only time will tell it seems.
When we reached there however, the same night we were told to 'be prepared' as some people were overheard talking about attacking our group at night! I thought, "What the hell!" Turned out there had been some tension brewing at the time what with a car reportedly damaged and burnt the previous evening.
The next morning, as we were taking a walk post our breakfast, we came across a classmate of mine, same college, but who was from a different locality and hence supporting a different candidate. We met him and we din't even talk properly! And to think that we always hangout together back in the college.
That was when I had once decided that I am never ever taking part in any election in my lifetime. The time has come around when elections are taking a huge chunk of media and I can't keep myself insulated from it. Also, this time it is noticeably an effort to educate voters on the candidates they will be electing to the Parliament and I appreciate the celebrities taking time out for doing this.
This time it won't be possible for me to go back home and vote , but now it is starting to seem more like the decision to abstain from it lifelong was a rather brash decision, taken without the benefit of my wisdom as it grows with age :) Or is it?
Have been hearing about no one having the ability to dodge political affiliations as one tries to shimmy up the social ladder, is it so? Will I be able to keep myself sane? Or should I be instead taking a more active role to ensure that the elections throw up a worthier elected assembly?
Only time will tell it seems.
3 comments:
Yea, elections brew bad blood among brothers too, it's that bad. What we need is a more personal than communal approach to the contesting candidates. That can happen if our people are educated.
Education!
I vaguely remember the incident.. the tense atmosphere.. but those were days when we were still in teens.. and couldn't comprehend things happening around us that well.. 99 feels like a long time back.
I was thinking it was sometime around 2002/03, but since we didn't have any elections around that time, i was in a fix until i saw your post. 99 is really a long time back.
You know i didn't vote that day. my name was missing from the rolls and when they tried to disguise me as some other person, it was pointless arguing with a cousin of mine who was the agent for the opposition party at the polling booth. :D
Your blog is really good! Unfortunately, It took me so long to discover. Keep writing; will visit often.
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