Marked people

I just returned as a marked man.  Having been marked by the mark of democracy – ink poured over left index finger. I was one of a few hundred lining up for hour and half or more from 7.00 AM in the morning at a polling booth of about 5 dingy dark rooms and a courtyard of about 400 sq ft. There was these few 100s in 6 – 8 serpiginous queues, waiting in the summer heat, patiently to get themselves marked.

But this is where democracy lives. Not in corridors of power of Delhi or state capitals. In the small villages, slums and residential colonies of our nation! Having the privilege of having a say in how I feel the country should be governed.

As I waited in the queue at the polling station - there was that feeling of being part of a vibrant grass root democracy – where in the midst of a very caste conscious and divided society, the well off and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, the upper caste and the lower castes, the majority community and the minority communities, all standing patiently in line – to be marked and to have that privilege of being part of  this electoral process.

At the same time, there was interestingly an eerie silence of “Nil political discussions”.  Nor much political canvassing or promotions of candidates nearby nor in the near vicinity, even prior to this day. Even prior to stoppage of the statutory restrictions. Which in one sense was discomforting – were the influences already in place – so that there was not much need to further engage or promote? One would never know.

There was also a realization, that there were many who could not be part of this process. My own close friend did not find his name in the list. There were many who found themselves not part of the process – for various reasons. A small community I am part of – quickly checking out – I realized that only 50% of the eligible had the access. And the voting percentage would be about 55% of the total eligible voters. If my calculation is right, then and if I can extrapolate the number – 55% of 50% is 27.5%! Or say – 30% - the 30% of the eligible population only gets the privilege to be part of this process?

As I waited outside the voting station – the dark dingy small closed of area, I waited with some lack of clarity in my mind what my choice should be. But standing there I was disturbed! In a mixed way. There was the many illiterate who were there, who seemed to be much more confident and clearer – with no questions being asked around, how to press the button and which button to press! Where did that confidence come from? Was it that they were already primed by the powers that be – in un-democratic ways, which button to press? There were some indications of this in one to one discussion with some local friends who shared to us, they were told by their community leaders which button to press!

As I walked in to vote and as I went through the list of candidates – I realized where part of the confidence might be coming from. The names were against symbols, and so press the symbol you want to choose - which was what was told to all those who were to vote. But the names itself told another story. The names represented the various majority people groups or castes in the region. The three or four major groups in the locality had one of theirs in the list. And for me as an outsider – all names were the same. But for a local person there was one of their “khantan” against one of the symbols! How would that influence their choices – one would never know.

The educated well off upper caste who were also politically educated, some of whom we knew, seemed to be very clear what their choices would be. The choice possibly decided by group loyalty and other loyalties, which they would not want to talk on the voting day. I am hoping to hear from them one of these days – and ask this question – how did you decide whom to vote for? The confusion seemed to be more with the outsiders, and the educated minority who were uneducated politically! People like us, who knew what to avoid but not what to align to!

But to be part of this grass root process and to consider this as a right and privilege is what gives us a feeling of fulfillment – that we have a say in what happens! That we are part of a such a vibrant democracy that is alive at the grass roots though lost in the corridors of power.

But to have a say with an unbiased mind, not biased by your group loyalties, an uncontrolled choice – not controlled by the undemocratic powers that be, is what we should pray for. A nation that votes with a free mind and will, but freedom under-girded with the desire for justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, and dignity of everyone, as enshrined in our constitution. That the vibrancy of grass root democracy permeates the corridors of power too! And pray that God will bring in leaders who will facilitate this unbiased uncontrolled vibrancy!