Irresponsible citizen ?

I never asked her why it is so important to cast her vote. Every time there is an election Mom makes sure she cast her vote. After she finishes her morning chores, she would go and cast her vote. Before her morning meal and never in the afternoon or evening.

Back then , there were not many (nay never) an “election analysis” or “ know your candidate” kind of public information. Nor there  aren’t any “star Icon ” appealing people to vote. Neither any organizations or corporate, or the media ( there were no Television then in those places) motivating  people to vote.  

Mom knows the Symbol of the candidate whom she would vote. She knows who she wants to vote. I remember she would mention “Khubak” while talking about the process of actually stamping the vote. Yes, she often talked about Indira Gandhi. She admires Rajiv Gandhi. The family name she grew up with.

Voting is personal for her. Or did she also subscribe to the theory of “the personal is political”? That's out of the question. She would not openly share whom she stamped. Her vote is her domain, her control, a decision and right to decide who she wants. Perhaps that was why she fiercely is possessive, protective of her one and only vote.

In a state where booth capturing is common , where election agents or candidate’s agents rule the constituencies, where many voters found their vote already stamped, while many found their names missing, Mom ensures she has her election card and no agent(s) violates her fundamental right !!. 

Mom, who in the universal understanding is an ordinary woman, ordinary - yes from a rural village. She go to school only till about class 1 or 2. She is not illiterate, in the sense she can read and write her name, she can read the Bible.   Surely , there are many like her, in villages and rural India, who believes in the “system” and religiously exercise their adult franchise. Otherwise will electoral democracy work ?

It is a common knowledge that  “middle class” or youths are indifferent to election. True. Or is it just a perception? – Could be. Do these sections of the society believe in “the system” ? I am not sure. Yes, many are indifferent to electoral politics. This includes me. Or is it that it is the new generation who are indifferent ?

But if I were to vote, whom should I vote, is a big question and a major confusion. I could not even decide. Growing up with the perception that electoral politics is ‘dirty’ and that politicians are corrupt ( indeed they were!!! ) has sink in so much that one does not really feel any excitement. Or am I to believe that not all were as dirty as we assumed? that politics is not as bad as it is ?  

Which ever way , argument , debates, I may try with informed choices and education i may have or may have acquired , thing is , Mom is much more responsible than me.

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