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Elections in Tripura, so far this year, have overshadowed every
other news which had potential of appealing to the appetite of
news hungry local intelligentsia. Politically hyperactive people
of Tripura , as I have come to understand them during past three
years of my stint here, have one very visible trait that’s to
express views emphatically and through all available platforms ,
means and tools.
Otherwise a small community, quite obscure to many on mainland
and geographically tucked away deep within the
neighbouring
country, Tripurians have flagged the present year to the notice
of all Indians by recording their faith in the democratic
traditions of the nation no other state or group has ever done
before.
The self proclaimed cradle or the cow belt of the nation , ever
ready to call themselves the crown of this country , may like to
take lesson or two from this gentle and intelligent mix of
Bengali and Borok speaking Tripurians , as I would like to call
them. This year for about a full month, election scenario bore
festive hues but remained largely peaceful and culminated into
above 92% electoral attendance on the day of voting.
This may actually be a world record for any similar formal
election participation, the comment I heard from several of my
friends from media and Govt. machinery. And I have reasons to
believe it so.
This percentage is huge and surpasses every other electoral
participation elsewhere in the country where on average 50-55%
come out to exercise their franchise. Internationally also such
higher turnout would be considered unique and exceptional.
The figure becomes whole lot more interesting when we consider
that Tripura has been always clubbed with allegedly disturbed
North East and has, not very far in past, been itself struggling
to cope with local tribal militancy. Tripurians , having come
out in such large number, seemed to made a point that they
wanted to ensure the success of participative democratic process
and to show the way to others that this remains the most
forceful way to jointly express views for bringing change.
Translation of political maturity into punching of electronic
voting machines has been almost complete this time.
The zeal to be part of the process could be seen even amongst
the poor at the lowest level of the society. And voluntarism
expressed by some, I came to notice, was remarkable. I had been
observing my maid, a lady in her late fifties preparing for the
elections almost two months in advance. She had been visiting
offices connected with issuance of Identity Cards for her and
her family members. Getting photographs done, checking date of
births of her three children and on day of election ensuring
that her recently married daughter comes back to cast her vote.
There have been numerous such demonstrative examples all
together capturing the spirit of Tripurians for their eagerness
to participate in this exercise. Then there were queues lasting
well past the official closing time, I heard. And there were
people who lined up very early before the day break to ensure
that they cast their vote.
Whatever would be the outcome of this process one thing is
proven the day elections were held that given a fair
opportunity, people of this State would exhibit collective
wisdom to prove that they are ahead of others not behind.
My work has taken me to interior parts of the State quite often
during past three years. Baramura, Jirania, Kalabaria, Belonia,
Khubal, and many villages I don’t even recall all names. One
thing though, very commonly I have observed, as I
mentioned at
start, Tripurians, whether Bengalis or Tribal have political
awareness about their rights. And that probably makes them
suited for being enablers of democratic transformation for
holistic development.
There has been uniformity of development across the urban and
rural landscape. The development does not mean that all have
prosperous modes of living now. But whatsoever has been achieved
and visible to outsider like me is, quite apparently, uniformly
distributed. But political parties must listen to public and
correct their systems for bringing change for uplifting standard
of living matching the rest of the country. By coming out to
vote in such large number people are showing loudly their desire
to demand prosperity and sending a clear message that they must
not be ignored.
My comments on what I observed would remain incomplete lest I
include a note on conduct of the elections in such fair and free
manner which gave boost to the enthusiasm of the public and
enabled them to come out in such large numbers. No demand for
re-poll by political parties speak for itself on this fact. Well
done.
The professionalism Tripurians demonstrated during this
election, would hopefully, give them reasons to collectively do
more for development of the State in future with same spirit.
This spirit should remain ignited. Rest of the country is
watching you.
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