Carpet bombing ? what a strange description for the launch of simultaneous election rallies. It is a word that makes one?s hair stand on end. It is a word that reminds one of the devastation of nations where innocent people died for no reason at all. Who thought of this word that in English spells doom and destruction? A very unfortunate use of language. Election rallies are about spreading messages and making promises to the people about the future, about what their future could hold and ?carpet bombing? is hardly the expression that conjures up a sense of hope. Maybe that is why there was hardly any coverage in the national media.
The frontpages of the papers during the early part of this week ran lead stories of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi filing their nominations for the polls. All the others got relegated to smaller column spaces across the inside pages. It was clear ? the first lead was about the new and fresh entrant into the national political arena, the young man who is poised to be the leader of a new generation of Indians. He comes straight to the point, speaks his mind and does not shy away from any question. To break the aging and corroding political paradigm is essential and will require grit and hard work against innumerable odds, but it is worth it ? the baton must pass on and change, along with a process of cleansing, brought into effect.
Yes, the new generation will have to put caste, creed and religion into their personal realm, consciously remove those issues from the public domain if their India has to move on and become a world power. The political misuse of these issues over the decades has torn the fabric of this great culture and its restoration needs immediate attention. The press, alas, is forever stuck on asking the same old question of the young leaders: ?What is your experience to be in politics and public life?? Silly, because the last thing India needs is a bag-gage carrying, ?experienced? and aged political breed of people, with zero sparkle and definitely no new idea or methodology. Remember Gandhiji ? he did not ?study? or have any ?experience? of satyagraha till he did it! We need to celebrate the new, not dampen their impact with the predictable questioning.
Make no mistake, young people in their thirties are ?experienced? and have a clear idea of what they want to do, how they want to contribute and participate and, more importantly, where they want to move to and at what pace. One longs to find at least one interview that extends beyond the obvious questions and ventures into the realm of new ideas, new aspirations. How much longer are the uninspired interviews going to hit the screens and bore us all to tears?
What a hoo-haa about whether exit poll results should be announced as the polling for the day ends.
Not much sense is required to comprehend that all polling must end before any exit poll results are announced. This is done worldwide and is unquestioned, except in India. Thank the Lord, all parties agreed! Who knows, in India, those conducting the polls may refer to them as ?opinion polls? and announce the verdict of exit polls…beware before it is too late! We are ingenious as a people when it comes to beating the rule and the system.
Hereon, all major decisions will be on hold till we have the final results that will determine the next five years for India. The debates that will undoubtedly continue are those that have to do with government interference in institutions of learning. Dangerous! Such places must be free of partisan biases to allow for diverse intellectual growth and excellence.
The other aspect that needs attention is the use of the electronic polling machines. They are tricky and all parties need to monitor their use with an eagle eye. We must not forget that those who man the booths are government employees and could well hold partisan positions. There is a danger in ensuring a free and fair election unless all parties are actively represented in the booths. I recall a woman at my polling station who did not know how to use the machine when a man entered the concealed area and pressed the button for her. Which button? Who knows what is happening in the rural countryside!
In India, elections are won by ?first-past-the-post?. One vote can win you your seat. A button pressed a few times could make or break a candidate. This makes vigilance hugely important. Training to man a booth is not required ? vigilance, party loyalty and dedication is what is critical. The great Indian drama is about to unfold!