Up Your's!

I just couldn’t stop laughing this morning after I saw the headlines in most of the English dailies of the country. As much as the news on the first page surrounded the subject of the 15^th Lok Sabha elections of this “great” democracy of ours, the pictorial representation in most of the publications was that of the celebrities casting their votes in Mumbai yesterday. Now isn’t that something that India really wants to read about; but then that calls for another entry on the working style of our media industry.

Well coming back to the topic of the 15^th Lok Sabha elections and the headlines. I was quite impressed with the graphic representation of the finger which symbolizes someone actually casting his / her vote. Interestingly, over the years it has always remained the index finger; however this year the Election Commission seems to have thought to make voting a bit of fun and have chosen the middle 

finger over the other four to symbolize this! And guess what, their response to this choice is – Mr. Shekhar Channe, joint electoral officer, said that the index finger was marked during the recent bypolls, Zila Parishad and council elections. To avoid complications, they decided on the middle finger. (Source: DNA, May 1, 2009/ Picture Courtesy: Mr. BL Soni.DNA)

How dumb do these guys think the citizens of this country are? No really, that is the lamest excuse I have heard in ages. I’m sure that’s not the real reason. Instead, someone senior in the Election Commission would have thought of sharing his views on the state of the Indian politicians but really did not have the balls (read guts!) to go up to even one of them and say it. And thought what better a way to convey this but through a large percentage of the billion population – lead by our ever willing list of celebrities - through just a symbol! Now this is just a theory, you really do not need to take it seriously.

But whoever came up with this idea, Sir / Ma’am you have my deepest regard and I applaud you for coming up with this brilliant idea. What better a way to get the Indian public into the polling booth and in a united tone say Up Yours Mr. Minister (s)!