Its really a matter of personal shame, just 50% around voter turnout in Bangalore.
I voted for the first time yesterday, the polling booth was very much near to my house, I voted, then I went again with 3-4 more close friends, we searched their names in the electoral list and they also voted there. I waited outside till they came out, was feeling very happy looking at the people outside in the queue. All kinds of people coming out there to exercise their franchise, very well-dressed, not-so-well-dressed, rich, poor, middle-class, physically disabled, college going, elderly folks, youngsters, corporates, everyone. I was feeling very good that people are taking an active step towards the responsibility. I was feeling somewhere in my heart that if this time the voter turnout goes to 65-70%, it would be so great of Youths, but it actually felt me very sad and shameful when I got to know that only 50% people have casted their vote.
I am getting no words for those who were enjoying sitting/relaxing at their home, roaming or just ignoring. Today's young generation out of which those who belong to corporate crowd, all days sit in AC buildings, roam around in luxury AC cars, eat the best of food, and pay 30% of their hard-earned money in taxes. Isn't it their responsibility to be a part of formation of world's largest democracy and make sure that the money is wisely spent?
- I would like to ask all of them who visits pubs and bars, have they casted their vote? If not, if next time there are any attacks on pub, you have no right to protest or blame anyone for it, you yourself are responsible.
- I would like to ask all of them who sent chaddi as a part of pink-chaddi campaign, did they vote?
- I would like to ask all who want freedom expressing their love, did you vote?
- I would like to ask girls who want to wear jeans and noodle straps, did you vote?
- I would like to ask all who want a good nightlife in bangalore, did you vote?
- I would like to ask all who want no more bomb-blasts, did you vote?
- I would like to ask all who want good roads, good public transport, and uninterrupted electricity supply and water, did you vote?
- I would like to ask all who are victim of reservation/quota or those who are not legitimate benefit of reservation, did you vote?
I think, answer to most of the questions will again be "NO" 51 or more %.
Are government ne chutti bhi diya tha, kya kiya uska, kha gaye kya, kya haalat hai yaar !!!
No worries, probably its actually not at all your fault who didn't vote. I amy be just over-reacting because I cannot be habitual of all these non-governance, let the people be habitual of being in dirt and jungle-raj.
Happy jungle-raaj and dirt to all of you who didn't vote. Keep up the good work.
But I feel to reserve some space on my blog-post to say a word of Thanks to all who exercised their franchise. Things doesn't end here for you too here, there is much more to do, its a start for a better India, better surroudings, better us and better generations to come. You also have to act on behalf of for your good and dear friends who didnt' vote.
Anyways, I end up here itself with a little of happiness that I voted for the first time, I voted for a change.
JAI HIND.
13 comments:
Very well-said pal. Shame indeed.
If Kashmiris, during the assembly polls, turned out in excess of 60% in spite of terrorist threat, call for poll boycott, snow, inhospitable terrain, inaccessible poll booths and what not; then why this dismal turnout in the much-hyped-about Bangalore?
And I would like to add one more question to your list:
Those of you who spend 3 rupees per SMS to vote for your favorite contestant in reality shows; did you vote in the biggest reality show in the country?
@kiran
yes Kiran, that's what.
There was no terrorist threat, no naxalites threat, no hurriyat boycott, no tsunami, no flood, nothing, not even rain yesterday, but a very good pleasant weather, but still.
this one is good..
but there are peoples and there are problems with them...
I myself wouldn't able to vote....many reasons.....i will be here and my name in the list is from ujjain.
there would also have many such students who actually want to vote but some how couldn't manage to..
but still 50% is more or less not satisfactory at all....
and one more thing....it doesnt matter how much people vote....it does only matter how much people vote correctly...(from correctly i mean having some knowledge about the person they are voting and his/her background).....
so if only 10% voters turns up and among them more than 5% vote to deserving candidate..than i thought i will be a win of democracy...
what say??
@Umang
Thanks.
To reply to your second thing, for students also, the needed thing was to add your name in the electoral list of the constituency you have been for 1 year, that's enough, and you can have so many identity cards.
And genuine exceptions are always there, and they cannot be blamed, I agree.
But at the sametime, it was you people's responsiblity to get your name added in the list earlier, that would have enabled you to cast your vote too.
But democracy is not about 5% or 10% right, its something for people and by people which needs everyone's participation right.
Democracy is something more of right voting not just voting...
There are many peoples who only think of "kamal ka fool" or "hath ka panja" irrespective of which candidate of that party is representing their constituency..
they are voting to them because their family has been voting to that party from years...
so i think such votes can be neglected right now..
i m very impressed with a TOI column on the second page(dance of democracy).....their idea is really appreciable....they have been giving the details of all the candidates and all the parties daily from 2-3 months before elections...i remember one day's coloum in which they have given all the names of criminal candidate and their crime detail..
so such practices are in progress......so a time will definitely come when hug number of votes will come up and all with a name of candidate in mind not a party....
Deepak: My heart-felt congratulation for castigating the society for this low voter turn-out.
I think that the present Indian situation is best described by Narayan Murthy:
"The Indian society is a society of ideas. It is a society that has revered talk. In this society, articulation is mistaken for accomplishment. We are quite satisfied with our voice, with our writings. This is not a society that is focussed on execution.
We are not a nation of doers; we are a nation which believes that our articulation is our accomplishment."
I am from B'lore, and I feel no shame in admitting that I didn't vote. In fact, I have never voted in my life, and as a matter of principle, I don’t intend to ever. You might find this idea strange; principled abstinence from voting isn't something I have come across in India so far. But before you jump to conclusions, think about what you do when you press a button on a voting m/c. With that button-press you give a politician (good or bad) the right to run your life any way he sees fit. You give up your freedom, your control to your life and property, your future, to the whims of another man. You have no practical control over what that elected person does after being elected. He might do what he promised. He might just ruin the whole country including you. Would you do that in your personal life? Would you put a thumb-impression on a blank piece of paper which gives a stranger complete control of your life, just based on his pious promises? So why is it a badge of honour if you do that in an election? And why exactly do I have to feel ashamed if I don't consent to be governed? Sorry, but I am not ashamed. I made the right choice. I didn't press that button; I didn't agree to be governed. Nothing the future Govt does will be in my name. I know, it makes no difference whether I voted or not. I'll have to (unwillingly) live under choices other people have made on my behalf. But I'll have this consolation: I didn't vote to give a politician the right to run your life. And that's a matter of principle for me.
If you want to discuss this further drop me a mail. Flames will be cheerfully ignored.
Cheers!
MCLA
@MCLA,
I have come across people who follow principled abstinence from voting. I have a friend who says he refuses to vote until even one of the politicians improves the condition of the poor around his area. Fair enough. I mean - a person who does not vote is not necessarily unpatriotic.
BUT ...
What is the solution really? A country needs leaders. You are a Bangalorean - you need a government which builds roads for you, which gives you water and electricity, which protects you and so on and so forth
.. ok .. I agree the current Govts are failing miserably at all these things they supposedly exist to do .. but hey, we are living in a democracy .. and voting is the first step towards participating in our own governance.
In my opinion, if you are unhappy with trusting your life in the hands of these good-for-nothings, then you can always enter the fray yourself. That does not necessarily mean standing for the elections yourself! You could use 49-O; or you could join NGO's to bring about the change you want to see .. or you could join one of the new-age political parties ..
That's just my opinion.
"Those who criticize politics as the last resort of a scoundrels are condemned to be ruled by scoundrels"
- Plato
I am also with you in expressing the anguish over low percentage of voting. It may not be solution for everything, but it is the beginning.
@MCLA
Hey,
I am very much agreeing with you, and the reason for you not voting also seems very genuine and valid.
I also agree that by voting to one person, we are giving the rights to that person, yes that's true, but as per democracy he is our representative, or in simple lines is that "public servant". But the reality is something different and because of which many more people are of the same opinion as of you.
But problem is valid and genuine, now what next? Have you ever thought of solution? I have the solution, a little long term solution, and by-the-way there is no short term solution for this. Solution is based on one hindi saying "Loha hi lohe ko katata hai".
See, the solution is "To Vote". Now how it will work in few months, years or terms, I will tell you. If you like somebody, vote for him, if not, then vote against, everytime if you are not satisfied, just change your choice. Think, millions of people doing the same can bring a lot of dynamics in the Indian democracy, which will result in politicians being afraid of "Common-man" and they will have no option but to work for "we, the people". Again, this cannot be done by a single person but millions of persons like us, that too consistently. And whenever the results will arrive, one thing is sure, we might not be able to see the benefits but our generations-to-come will definitely have the fruits of this, what better can you pass on to your generations, a much better environement, what else one wants?
Its just my opinion, but think about it.
Together we can, we will make a difference.
Jai Hind.
@All
Thanks for your replies.
I wish to clarify that my problem is not with bad politicians. However much I despise them, I understand that they are the product of a system. The system is representative democracy, which has an incentive structure. India's Westminster style democracy promotes a certain kind of behaviour in political aspirants, whereas the American style democracy promotes a different, regrettable behaviour in political aspirants. Tendency for corruption and abuse of power is inherent in the way the system is set-up. So I don't believe voters turning out in larger numbers will have any beneficial impact on political outcomes.
Secondly, my previous concern remains unanswered. However good your candidate, is it wise to give her unlimited power over yourself? Does the Indian democratic system recognise any boundaries to the role of the Govt? Is there any area where Govt promises not to play a role? None. In effect, an election is a mandate for dictatorial powers for the winner. If the Govt doesn't grossly abuse the power, we just happen to be lucky. Other countries, like the USA and UK, haven't been so lucky. I am sorry to see that this question isn't even being asked.
@Pangala Nagendra Rao
"Those who criticize politics as the last resort of a scoundrels are condemned to be ruled by scoundrels"
Plato was no fan of democracy. Democracy lead to his master Socrates executed by a jury of ignorant townsfolk. Plato believed in a benevolent dictatorship of philosophers. He was a philosopher himself and liked power as much as the next guy. But besides that, not criticizing an obvious fact doesn't change reality either. We are being ruled by scoundrels. So let's go beyond rhetoric and ask why we are ruled by scoundrels. What's it about the democratic system that it consistently elects scoundrels in every democratic nation on earth?
@Kiran
"A country needs leaders."
"...you need a government which builds roads for you, which gives you water and electricity, which protects you"
Sorry, but you are making some assumptions that need questioning. Space is short here, so feel free to drop me a mail if you'd like to discuss further. I am mcla007 at g-mail.
Cheers!
Agree with you that we have no right to complain if we donot fulfill our responsibility of casting our vote. Bangalore has been such a let down.
@MCLA
For your first concern, let me tell you again, I already said that voting is not the only solution, and even large number is also not solution, they all have to be matched up by consistency and dynamic decision as per the performance of the government. Today mostly educated people who can verify the performance of the govt don't vote, and those who are not-so-well-to-do and not-educated, they sell their vote for a drink, a blanket, a sari or just a meal.
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