Do you need to vote?

Scene 1

I was on my way to Delhi on a business visit and we had a group of first time travellers from a couple villages near channapattana (Near Mysuru). All were elderly people perhaps in their 50s - 70s. For sure, they were excited as kids getting into the plane and those who got the window seats were super thrilled. One elderly gentleman, to whom everybody was addressing with respect and were calling him “Gowdre” was seated just behind me and I could not help but to overhear the conversation that took place literally behind my back (pun intended). 

This group were on their way to Delhi and to visit Kashi, Ayodhya, Amritsar and various other places. 

They were mentioning that it was an eleven days trip. So, they were obviously missing to vote in this election. 

I thought of turning around and asking them as to why did they plan to go on this journey when the election was on and decided not to, as they were all in a happy mood. There was nothing that they would do to cancel their trip, as some stranger asked them to vote. I kept mum. 

They forfeited their RIGHT to vote and take an active part in this democratic society. 

Scene 2

I was returning from the same trip and sat in an airport taxi late in the night at around 10.45 PM. A young man in his 40s was my taxi driver. 

I struck a conversation with him (as I do with most of the taxi drivers around the world to know about weather and general information / gossip. Many a time it has led to a very nice and a pleasant journey, both for me and the driver).  He was from Bijapura area and I could make out from his style of Kannada. We settled down for a nice conversation. 

You guessed it right, he was not voting as it was in his village and he wanted to stay back for his livelihood in Bengaluru. 

I also noticed that he did not stop at the traffic signals, even as it was red. After the second violation, I mentioned to him that he was violating the traffic rule. He laughed it out and said that it is late in the night and nobody stops. He also mentioned that there would be no policemen to “Catch him”.  

This time I saw a citizen not only forfeiting his RIGHT to vote but also was failing in his DUTY to follow the law (rule). 

I decided that I should now speak out and maybe still influence this person and asked him if he would like to listen to a story. He was amused and said yes. I narrated this to him (which many would have perhaps already heard).

Story

This is the season of Ram mandir, Ram Navami and Ram Rajya etc.. so, let me talk about an incident in a village. 

The villagers all decided to celebrate Ramanavami together and conduct bhajan in the village Hanuman temple. It was also decided that in the end, there will be “Panaka, neer majjige and kosambari” (Lemonade, butter milk and a sort of salad). It was decided that from every house in the village there should be a contribution in the way of a pot of Lemonade and butter milk. The salad would be made at the temple itself.

Two large vessels were kept at the entrance of the temple. As the families started coming to the temple, each of them poured their portion into the respective vessels.

When all the singing of bhajans got over and after the mangalarati, volunteers went to these big vessels to serve everybody a glass of paanaka and majjige. 

Much to their dismay, both the vessels were filled with just plain water.

Every household thought that "others" would pour the right liquid and "they" could get away by just pouring water into that vessel. The entire village thought so and ended up with just water in both the vessels. 

The end?

The driver had a hearty laugh and I solemnly said each of those vessels represent your RIGHT (Hakku) and DUTY (baadhyathe) If everyone starts to think, let others contribute correctly and I will disregard my contribution, as a village we don’t get to enjoy paanaka and majjige. We end up with water or a watered down solution.

The driver went silent and said “Saahebre neevu heLodu Khare” (Sir, what you said is right).

Not sure, if he will go and vote, not sure if he will stop flouting the rules and law, but I did my bit in explaining to him. 

Let’s go out and exercise our RIGHT and vote and also perform our DUTY to this society and to ourselves by following the rules, paying our taxes and be a responsible citizen of this democratic set up.

• Na Shri Mo