Basket Case

I am not a registered voter in Bangalore. There. I said it. I am sitting here diddling my thumb as others around me go and elect their government. In the 14 years since I qualified as a voter, I have voted once. As it happens, shortly before I turned 18, I left home and have lived in hostels, other cities, other countries ever since, never remaining in one place for more than 4 years. Being politically aware at the national and state level but mostly feeling as an outsider to the proceedings in immediate vicinity. I voted in the last LS elections because I happened to be in Lucknow on the election day. In 2009, When I looked up the candidates I had to choose between, I was stuck. For me, Lucknow meant Vajpayee, someone I had come to admire. Given that he was a top level leader, his views on variety of issues were well known. But by 2009, he was no longer around. As his nominee, we had Lal ji Tandon from BJP - someone I had never liked. Congress had Rita Bahuguna in fray. Hardl...

पोस्टर छपवाने पड़ते हैं, विज्ञापन देने होते हैं, रैलियां सैकड़ों लगती हैं, गठबंधन करने पड़ते हैं. जनतंत्र के सागर में मित्रों, कुछ लहरें सहसा उठती हैं, बाक़ी उठवानी पड़ती हैं. कुछ बात भूलनी पड़ती हैं, कुछ अजब करिश्मे होते हैं, अपराध मुक्त भारत के लिए, अपराधी चुनने पड़ते हैं. जनतंत्र के मेले में मित्रों, कुछ नाच नचाते बन्दर को, कुछ बन्दर-नाच नचाते हैं. कभी चाय बेचनी पड़ती है, इंटरव्यू देने पड़ते हैं, जब लोग कुर्सियां ना छोड़ें, तो धक्के देने पड़ते हैं. जनतंत्र की होली में मित्रों, कई रंग दिखाने पड़ते हैं, कई रंग बदलने पड़ते हैं.