Sunday, April 6, 2014

On election eve: What's different this time

Every Indian General Election is historic because of its scale. This election to me seems to mark a turning point in our politics for another reason.

Between 2009 and 2014, we have witnessed political mobilization on a scale rarely seen since the freedom struggle, and in multiple locations. We have seen the villagers of Odisha protest and turn back projects by multinational corporations. We have seen the villagers of Idinthakarai and Jaitapur speak up on nuclear installations in their neighbourhood. We have seen the massive crowds at Anna Hazare's rallies to demand a Janlokpal Bill. And finally, for the first time, we have seen crowds protest against the failures of governance and policing that make public spaces unsafe for women. We are now talking about law and governance, accountability and patriarchy in ordinary conversations with each other.

Social networks have amplified this change and facilitated it somewhat, but one could argue that the actual mobilization has been a long time brewing. The people who are conceptualising and leading these movements are from the real world--the old world--of social movements and political activism.

It is all these people who have allowed politics to disrupt their hitherto apolitical lives in Jagatsinghpur, in Kudankulam and in New Delhi (among other places) that are going to make this election a game-changer. Everyone seems to have a political opinion and many more than one would have ever imagined are willing to put their time and other resources behind their favourites. Many are now party workers--for the outsider parties like the Aam Aadmi Party and Lok Satta--but also in some measure in the mainstream. Joining a party is no longer something that middle class people don't do.

The entry of famous professionals and celebrities has been striking, but that does happen to some extent in every election. It is the entry of non-celebrity professionals that is interesting this time, and again, the large numbers of first-time political volunteers with them.

From tomorrow, we will be monitoring the turnout in each location, and it will be interesting to see whether the mobilization of the last few years will make a difference. Will awareness and activism translate to the willingness to come out and vote? Or will it remain at the level of social network 'shares' and 'likes,' and occasional attendance at candlelight vigils? Will there be major differences between urban and rural India?

The fate of the professionals and celebrities and the election outcome are of short to medium term interest to us. In the long run, we will want to know whether India is about to enter a phase of pro-active citizenship, where "ordinary" citizens use a variety of new and old tools to be informed and stay engaged with policy issues.

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