Voting

 Currently I am conducting a skill enhancement course for the college office staff. One of  my very sincere colleague-cum-students wrote to me on January 25 that she would not be able to attend the lecture because she would be busy with the Voters'  Day  work.

Earlier, too, in a friendly chat or two, Mrs Kulkarni narrated the travails, tribulations, and a very rare treasure or two of this tiring, thankless job, going from door to door, collecting data regarding the voters. Tough work indeed! As a government officer, Papa, too, often had to perform that extremely sensitive duty as the In-charge of a voting booth in some far-flung interior part of the state, et al. 

Despite so much sincere spade work by the establishment, a huge chunk of the 'janta' is least concerned about the primary duty as a citizen of a democratic nation, that is, to vote. In fact, if the voting day happens to be a Friday or a Monday, most "citizens" make it in to a longish weekend as the voting day is almost always a holiday. "Enjoy", as it is typically reiterated these days, is the motto! Who then cares for the 'right to vote', right?

The voting percentage is real low in cities. In fact, in "posh" areas, people almost seem to look down upon voting, while in juggies and zopadpattis, there would be record voting. All of us 'educated' people mock such 'shanty' voting. Very rarely though do we bother about our  own prime duty, that is, to vote!

Luckily for us, our parents made it almost compulsory for us to vote. We have never ever given voting a miss. Sanju drives all the way from Hinjewadi to Kothrud just to cast the vote, while Raju and I track down the voting centers in our respective areas till we find the exact location of the center, but vote we sure do!

Voting is indeed the prime duty of a citizen. Sure, in a democracy,  actively performing the  other roles and responsibilities of a citizen does matter. Yet, unless and until the primary duty of voting is not fulfilled, nothing else can work in a democracy.

Even when stories about how Indian voters are very intelligent and aware abound, conscientious citizens are indeed very few.  Should voting then be made compulsory? If we want the rewards of a democratic set-up, "we, the citizens" as the Preamble defines us, must fulfill our duties and responsibilities, and without any incentives! What say?

Pratima@ Voting is the (he)art of the democratic process. Oh, yes, during my Ph.D. tenure, I was once the Chief Executive Officer of the Students' Council Election Committee, and was known as the Lady Sheshan of the campus! Fun it was, but that duty yet again made me aware of the huge responsibilities of a citizen, that is, to vote.