Voting for the nation

93

Elections 2009 produced a national mandate, above caste and region The most "issue-less" election has thrown up the most magnificent result. It was a grueling marathon five week campaign: political vocabulary touched its lowest depths, shoes were flung, political murders were carried out, Naxals killed 29 security staff and election officers and even hijacked a train, the Election Commission sent notices almost every day on money being handed out at holi milans and campaign meetings. Every reporter came back from dusty dirt tracks complaining about the dreary lack of a "wave" of any kind this time. But unknown to most, in this most dull, degraded and exhausting campaign, somewhere in a nation's heart, an invisible yet powerful act of collective will was getting ready to be born. Voters across India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari moved in almost spiritual unison to vote for hope over fear, for stability over....

The Elf Of Elections

52

In politics, as in business, there's no place for monopolies anymore Covering the election campaign in 2004, your humble columnist had spotted a funny little creature, and had written about it too. Who is this creature who even in 2009 skips and hides in riverbeds and slums? This little creature is an elf. And his (or her) name is the elf of Self Respect. "The soul of a nation long suppressed finds utterance', roared Jawaharlal when freedom dawned in 1947. But freedom remained a flickering oil lamp for millions who struggled under a brutally elitist society where industry, education and government remained the monopoly of the few. The elf had nothing except the one instrument handed to him by the great dreamers of 1947. He had the vote. And he voted, voted repeatedly, sometimes wrongly, sometimes rightly, always with one secret aim: give me....