The TV effect

What do slum dwellers and farmers have in common? They both have access to cable TV.
What cable TV does, is, it gives you the feeling of being in the know. Of being empowered.
Suddenly, their conversation needn’t be about someone’s suicide. Rather, about what the Prime Minister of the country said about suicide.
Take into account the manner in which local language channels dramatise the news and essentially you have a voter ready to decide for him/herself who will run India. They did. And the Congress won because the ‘remaining 70 per cent of India’ now watch TV.

Me, poll pundit

Three tips on voting this election in India.

* Vote for a party that has a strong regional platform and a genuine regional progressive manifesto. Do not buy the ‘stability at the Centre’ argument. Strong regions make a strong nation.

* Vote for the candidate, not for the party. In India, candidates need parties because of the nature of politics. One cannot go it alone. However, a good candidate will put constituency above party and play the necessary politics to keep both happy. Vote for this person.

* Finally, vote. It’s one of the few populists agendas that’s kosher.

I want to vote

I have voted in every Indian election since I was eligible to. This may be the first poll I will miss, unless they allow in-absentia voting. I am seriously considering flying down to cast my vote.
I have never wanted to migrate to Australia, New Zealand or Canada. I have a fondness for England, stemming from some Anglo blood far into the history of my mother’s side. I view the States with admiration and contempt, so I would love to visit. But, it’s India that is my home and India that I love and miss. I want to vote.