I recall when I entered the voter’s eligibility in my 21st year. (I left the year undisclosed to keep the few wondering ladies’ curiosities alive!). Be that as it may, I woke up and ran with many voter’s slips provided by the political parties and headed the queue. I was the first, but the crowd swelled soon after that.
The voting was in a school, and the polling officials were kind of unkind! The agents of the various political parties did not quite understand the rascal hidden in me as I was winking and smiling at all present. I voted and came out as if I won the ‘Jallikattu’ and tamed the most ferocious bull. There were no smartphones and, therefore, no selfies. I needlessly showed my inked finger even when there was no need.
Alas! The person I voted for lost the election. It was not the first time alone. I had kept a reasonable unbroken record of voting out rather than electing representatives. I can only recall the Late Cho Ramaswamy, a famous editor and satirist who could do such a feat. Anyone, he promoted invariably lost the elections, though it did not deter the writer.
This time, I had another first. The poll official insisted that I give my LTI, the left thumb impression, against the customary signature in the register. The official perhaps did not know my wizardry in making people lose. I pressed the button and left in a state of ecstasy, succeeding in voting out another candidate.
Back home, I hear that one has now to wear the masks at home as well. I do it with glee as I can talk less, and so could my wife. Would the department of whatever, or is it the Madras High Court now handling the Covid protocols, not advise on plugging ears too? I guess my wife has become much intimidating with her ever-increasing directive principles, making me feel differently-abled.
Today is Hanuman Jayanti, or rather, Hanuman Janmotsav. Someone belatedly found out the Jayanti part applies to mortals, and Hanuman is immortal. Undoubtedly there has been a sudden spurt of pavement Hanuman temples. Hanuman, the monkey god, wasn’t a favourite of Bengal and limited his presence to the Western parts of the State, bordering Jharkhand. Mostly the migrants from the adjoining States populating city areas like Burra Bazar and the adjoining Howrah worshipped Hanuman. Today, Hanuman is magically omnipresent and challenging lesser gods like Sani – Saturn, who always was the earlier runner-up after Kali.
The EC has advised not to invite anyone at home, my friends taking it literally and stopping their complimentary waterholes. I feel dismayed. This, too, will pass. My heartfelt condolences to many friends and families down with Covid. Kolkata’s condition is not as critical yet, as in Mumbai or Delhi. I pray good health of the nation and sign off for now.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
