Since the times they considered me eligible for voting, that to be exact, 43 years ago, I had been religiously voting in every election held till now, except this one! The candidates whom I voted so far, almost always lost, if got elected by chance, their party lost. So all in all my vote was always wasted. And the change occurred. Winds started blowing in a different direction, and Indian national Corrupt[ INC party], started losing foothold practically in all areas, including lowest level at municipal elections.
But going by the accounts may be planted news in daily newspapers and mostly, bought electronic media, in this election, the picture was extremely gloomy. Right from the selection of the candidates, distribution of the tickets to whirlwind propaganda [ what else could it be called, the campaign seems to be a very mild word] every party stooped to such a low level of civility that every leader and his candidates[ Henchmen?] almost looked like tartars from the middle ages barging ahead to loot the richest corporation in India. With no bars held, it was, call it 'Tamasha, Nautanki', whatever, of first-order held at a red light area of any city. Abuses were hurled left, right and centre, contrived charges, without any concrete proof what so ever, were made without bothering about the dignity of the person, more importantly, the post they are holding. And like any civilized sober human being, I started feeling,'This is not my game.' I do not want anything out of the normal legal ways from these elected representatives as they never ever represent my class, 'Erudite, educated, well informed and legally well-behaved people.' On the contrary in my profession, even though I am in every which way, on the right foot vis a vis a patient, this rogue corporator is never going to educate the wrongly informed, ill-conceived, semi-literate abusive party worker but is going to instigate him against me!
Though I had made my mind, not to vote, even not to exercise 'NOTA' as I had done in past elections, I did go to the booth. In fact, I could have exercised 'NOTA' again, but really, does it count in a country like India where more than half the population does not understand the meaning of democracy in the first place For 'NOTA' to be effective the electorate has to mature, at least up to some level.
There was this huge queue of low brow [Sorry, extremely personal opinion] voters jostling to get the voter's number from the clerk. She looked absolutely exasperated. Being a polling officer she had to be compulsorily polite, though every odd one, from party worker to actual voter, who could have been illiterate maid to semi-literate factory worker was trying to bother her from every angle. As usual 'Voters' lists were inaccurate.After waiting in the scalding sun for 30 minutes or so and not getting my number I lost my cool and started venturing homewards. And I got the shock of my life.
On a big board, the information, personal as well as economic, of every candidate was displayed in bold letters. Out of 14 odd ones, only one was postgraduate, hardly two or three graduates but more than 70% were school dropouts, not completing even 10th! One was under trial if convicted could be behind the bar for at least 3 to 4 years!
Me, my son, daughter and every child in my near circles, had to appear for dozens of qualifying examinations to get into professional courses. And here to run the profession of the richest corporation of India anybody and everybody is eligible, no qualification, what so ever is required! No wonder nepotism, corruption, bribery is rampant in these institutions and at times the decorum of the house is brought to the level of the fish market!
I could not wait for a second more and for the first time in my life I came back without voting and I don't feel guilty!