Skip to main content

Crestfallen- No ink to stain my finger

My city goes to the polls tomorrow. After weeks of frenzied campaigning and an overkill of election propaganda, the streets are vanilla again. Yes, all signs of campaigning have been removed as per election commission guidelines. But you can still smell it in the air, you can hear it in the wind. The drums may have stopped beating but the echos haven't faded.

The Indian General Elections 2014. The world's largest democracy voting to elect its next central government. Complicated, calculating, sometimes comical, this election seems to be one of the most exciting elections ever. Excited to be in country to vote in a general election for the first time since I turned 18, I went through all the procedures to get my name included in the voters list in my constituency. However when the final lists were published, I was utterly devastated to see that my name wasn't there.

I set out on a mission to try and find the main master voter list to see if maybe my name had inadvertently been mixed up and put in another ward. Spoke to my local and very approachable electroral registration officer who sent me to the constituency HQ. There I met a bunch of busy no doubt but very unfriendly staff who quickly shooed me off to another local office. Thus began a typical pillar to post game of tag. After visiting four such offices (must clarify that not everyone was rude or unhelpful) I realised that nobody had this master list. Everyone seemed to be checking the list online, the same list that I had poured over, searching every combination or possible spellings of my name. At the last office I visited they suggested I come back after the election, as everyone was just too busy. Really, they just could not see the point of my eagerness to vote. Perhaps they were amused or surprised that someone would go through all this trouble 'just to vote'.One of them even optimistically said, "Don't worry next time your name will be there."

I gave up then. Oh by the way, I even wrote a passionate email to my party/candidate of choice saying help me, so I can give you my vote. But alas, no surprize, I am still waiting for an answer. Stupid to even expect one I guess. But I wasn't leaving any stone unturned:)

So thats that. No ink will stain my right index finger. I am sad, very sad and very very angry. This was my right. And because I feel that in this election, every vote is crucial, I believed my vote could have made a difference.My vote could have counted and helped bring my party of choice to power. I know there are hundreds of people like me out there, who want desperately to vote, but who didn't make it to the list. And for everyone of us,I am also sure that there is someone who has made the list, but won't go out to vote. I appeal to these people, don't waste what's actually a privilege. Go, exercise your vote. Prove you believe in the power of democracy. Prove you love your country. Yes we may be choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea, but remember atleast with the sea there is a possibility of remaining afloat but with the devil, we'll be selling our soul.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Rebello Lobo Christmas update 2023- Transitions Trials Triumphs

It’s a few days before Christmas and here I am, sitting in one of my most favorite spots, the verandah of my ancestral home.  As I look back and contemplate the year that has been, I try to break down the share worthy moments and … I really do not know where to begin. The Rebello Lobo's have had another almost unbelievable year! A year of TRANSITIONS,  TRIALS and  TRIUMPHS. TRANSITIONS The Big move to Colombo Our 8 th move, was preluded by some formidable moments and so it was with much relief that we landed in Sri Lanka, the beautiful ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’- our home for the next (we hope) four years. Taliya took the journey very well and has since taken to Island life like quite the seasoned third culture dog she is. She might quite possibly be the only Lahsa Apso in Sri Lanka and as a result has been getting quite the celebrity attention. Colombo reminds us so much of home, and we are loving the food, the music, the culture, and the beaches. Home is just a one ho...

We didn't just raise a strong girl, we raised a warrior

Neeira-in the last 18 years you have brought us much pride, love, and laughter. We watched you become a remarkable person with a strong moral compass. You often taught us, that speaking up for something even in the most uncomfortable of situations was ALWAYS worth it. You never hesitated to break the silence for what needed to be said. You took on stigmas and cycles and chains for you believed they needed to end. Your loyalty to your sisters, your mother tongue, and your mother land is inspiring. And your diligence and discipline for anything you take on is admirable. As you celebrate this milestone birthday on the cusp of the new adventure that awaits you, we wish that all your dreams come true. We hope a spicy plate of biryani will always bring you comfort, that you meet your favorite Bollywood stars someday, that you get to travel and travel and travel and go do a semester at sea.  You have heard us saying ever so often 'life is unfair' and you will experience this yourself ...

Technological displays of affection strictly prohibited!

Its Saturday morning....Would have loved to sleep in but have been up since 6.30. We had three kids over for a sleepover last night and of course since its not a school day, they have to wake up on their own much before they really need too:) But that's fine, it gave me a chance to have an early morning lengthy cuppa out on the terrace. Though the younger kids are up and about my TEENAGER is fast asleep. Its the one day she gets to sleep in. I tell the younger kids to play quietly but its a tall order and though they are not extremely loud, their laughter, chatter and Lirayas periodical Liraya screams fill the house. I am on my computer by now and catching up with emails and Facebook. Suddenly there is a ping- new email alert. Who's it from? The TEENAGER! Apparently she is awake and sending me an email asking me to forward her her homework which comes to me weekly from school(another post on this later). She is directly below me. She doesn't think it necessary to walk up ...