The Election and the digital divide
Now, that the polling is over and the electorate of India or Bharath as some would want to say, has spoken, is that in a loud voice? I guess it is, and as loud as it can get in this super hot summer and the parched throats can shout. More that 50% of the population have spoken and that is loud enough for me.
The Election
commission has to be commended and so too the law and order enforcement agencies
who had to keep the “Future Law makers” from “not breaking the law”. Passions whipped up, complaints galore.
This was by
no means an easy exercise and full marks to these agencies for doing this
massive job with elan and poise. While, it would have been better to have done
this within a shorter period of time, we should understand when the circus has
to move from one place to another, it takes time. This long period definitely helped to keep the
Media (Specifically the TV media) super busy and many motor mouths to “Express”
themselves in the “Debates”. The Psephologists (did we not hear this word
for the first time when we listened and watched to Dr. Pranoy Roy on NDTV ages back?), “Opinion
polls” (I really wonder if the opinions of these opinion polls matter at all), analysts, predictors, tarot card readers, astrologers were also fully occupied and the unemployment
level is sure to go up once the election dust settles and all these have to
find some other vocation till the next great Indian Jamboree.
All said
and done, dear Election Commission of India, it is time take a bow. It was
impressive (Has been since the days of the great Mr. T N Sheshan – it was only
since then, we sat up and took notice of this agency in India)
Now I quote
from “The Election Commission of India” press release on 1st June
2024..
“Polling across the country was held smoothly and
peacefully across seven phases. The Commission led by CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar
along with ECs Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu kept a close
watch on every aspect of the poll process during the seven phase General
Elections. Stringent security measures were in place creating a conducive
environment for voters to cast their vote without fear or intimidation. With
meticulous advance planning and rigorous training of election officials,
elections this time have seen a drastic reduction in the number of repolls
demonstrating the robustness of the election process...”
Digital
divide, Information, dis-information, mis-information
This election
was marked by a heavy use / misuse of the digital media. This by nature being “Digital”,
it is either a “0” or a “1” and this digital divide has not space for any
fractions. It is either “For” or “Against”.
Hence, we
were bombarded within many of the “WhatsApp groups” that we are in, “X’” that
we follow, the TV channels that we watch – all what we apparently wanted to
watch, see and hear. So, in effect the three monkeys were in action, and we
allowed ourselves “Not to see, not to hear and not to say” what we did not want
to.
Na brooyaath, satyam apriyam
Priyancha na anrutham brooyaath
Yeshaha dharmaha sanaathanaha”
Do not speak out if it is an unpleasant truth
Just for the reason that it is pleasant, do not tell a lie
This is the (essence of) the eternal way of noble life or the sanaathana dharma".
What do you think? Leave in the comments section, if you want to.
Very good article.
ReplyDeleteIt has thrown light on the Bharat democratic system and the office involved in it.
Bharat Mata ki Jai 🙏🙏
Vande Mataram 🙏🙏
Thanks Sridhara. Yes, proud to be a part of this Nation
DeleteA good cent percent marks to EC.
ReplyDeleteWith all the power play around, this must have been a difficult task.
We are a policed society.we need strong supervision.
All that ends well is well done.too much of noice in the social media.that will Stop now.
I am also like you. Truth plesent...
A Well written article
Thanks Shankaranna. Is being a Policed society good? I don't think so. Again, Truth need not necessarily be Pleasant. But an "Unpleasant lie" is more dangerous. With AI and deepfakes, unfortunately that is becoming more prevalent.
DeleteHi Mohan, good article. I liked the sting in the tail “ fractions like us are made to choose between 0 and 1” - SPM
ReplyDeleteThanks SPM. ha ha, aren't many of us fractions and forced into being digital?
DeleteThe sanskrit verse and its translation makes it very clear why some politicians do not want to follow or unable to follow Sanatana Dharma..It is beyond them!
ReplyDeletePoliticians have a clear agenda and that is obviously not truth. Their ultimate truth is Power
DeleteAll the tenets of the constitution & rules prescribed in the peoples' representation act were flouted with impunity, with the 11th Aavathar of Vishnu leading from the front, in a no holds barred election. Yet again proves that we are just the largest banana republic. People voted for their Aastha , so that majoritarian rule is established.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a No holds barred election. Yes, flouting of rules has been very prevalent. I would rather not comment on who started all of this? When did the "Investment politics" start? Who started it? While I do not believe in a "Messiah" who needs to deliver us (which ever # of avathaar it is), I personally feel that a society needs a strong leader with a clear vision and hope this vision is noble and not leading to "personal enrichment" but to "Social upliftment". No, I beg to differ from you on your comment that we are a "Banana republic". We are a thriving and evolving Democracy. I am proud of this.
DeleteWell written Mohan, as always.
ReplyDeleteFully agree with you, Election Commission to be applauded for getting this difficult job - fairly well done.
All the flouting during election period will be forgotten once dust settles down in few days and we all see the eagerly awaited continued further growth in economy and a broad based societal well being across the country.
Thanks Partha. We all live on hope and a sense of positivity..
DeleteNow that the results are out, some of the canards floating around, which even very intelligent and sensible friends of mine believed, have been proved false.
ReplyDelete1. The BJP government is not an autocratic government, heading towards a dictatorship.
2. The Election commission is independent and very efficient.
3. EVMs and VVPATs electronics are not corrupted to deliver votes to BJP.
4. Both sides make a lot of absurd claims.
5. The most impressive exit poll prediction was from Yogendra Yadav. I am not his fan and did want to believe him. But he has been very good, making a host of other big psephologists, look like jokers.
Every dark cloud has a silver lining. This one has many silver linings, I presume. Yes, you are right about many of your points. I hadn't heard of YY's prediction. True, we had many an Ultracrepidarians floating around.
Delete