We voted...

Dear Readers,

I vividly remember Voting Days - the day those eligible to vote could troop to their nearest polling booth and cast their vote. Voting day was never a holiday at home. I am referring to the mid-1970s here, when there was no access to information online nor public awareness campaigns nor electronic voting machines.

Mummy always made it a point to know which candidate was standing for elections and whom she and indeed the eligible voters in the family should vote for. In fact, at that point of time, candidates went from door to door. I remember a few of them being questioned not only by my mother but also by my granny.

I began to vote as soon as I was eligible to do so. It was thrilling to queue up for the first time and cast my vote. The venue was St Anns' School, Pali Hill, just down the road from our residence. My first vote was for the late Sunil Dutt, who was a great social worker in our constituency and a great human being.

Thus, today was no exception. Mummy made sure we did not sleep in late, as I am prone to on a holiday. We were all briskly taken to the polling booth. However, at 9 am, there was hardly any one around. We were the only people in the room where we had to cast our vote. I do hope people start coming in soon.

There was a slight mix up in my name, my surname went missing in the list which the election officers had, even as it contained my name followed by my father's name and other details. But as I had enough evidence to produce, all was well.

I just wanted to thank all those who make elections a possibility in our country. The unsung heros - the election officers, the security guards, all of whom make it possible for us to celebrate our democracy. I wonder when these people get to vote? I hope they do. It is the right of every Indian to be able to vote.

As they say, every drop makes an ocean. Yes, every vote counts. So, if you are in Bangalore or any territory which has to vote today and haven't cast your vote yet, please do go. Vote for a united India, which looks forward rather than backwards.

Photograph: WSJ online

Best regards,
Lubna