 |
| To catch the fish... credit: www.teleguone.com |
With the emergence of Jhaadu (Broom) in the wake of this
election-season, "party symbols" are now much more than just a way to
open the doors of voting for illiterates. Hardly the Big-two (the BJP and the Congress), until Delhi Assembly Elections, had any idea about what a broom
could do except sweeping the dirt out of a household.
There were more than 80 symbols that were unclaimed when AAP
party decided to go with a "Broom". How thoughtful! A common-man
would have hardly taken a minute before associating himself with a Jhaadu, and
I don't think I have to explain what importance a Jhaadu has in the life of a
common-women.
Did the BJP or the Congress contemplate before choosing
their symbols? I don't think so.
The BJP is identified with "Lotus". Where does a lotus
grow? Yes, in the mud. Is the BJP trying to say that India is a mud where the
Lotus (read BJP) blooms? Despite an aesthetic facet of this symbol, I do not
appreciate it.
The Congress is no different. What best can a stretched erected
palm signify? Stop. What really Congress strives to stop? Is it economic
prosperity, or GDP growth, or employment, or simply a speeding truck on a busy
Indian road? And the worst part is, presence of this very symbol along with the text 'Indian National Congress' on Electronic Voting Machines may persuade voters to
STOP and think twice before pressing the blue button juxtaposing the name of
the party.
Talking about other players of regional importance, Mulayam
Singh Yadav boasts his conventional “bicycle”. While this symbol can amuse a
few environmentalists, it can tick-off the new aspiring middle-class of Indian
society for which "class" means nothing less than a "car"
as long as that car is not "Nano".
Taking a lesson or two from this episode, any new party,
planning to contest the election, should think hard before choosing its
party-symbol. I am listing a few of these with their possible meaning. Feel
free to lift any; these are approved by the Election Commission of India.
Batsman
In a country, obsessed with cricket, nothing could be better
than having Batsman as party-symbol. Fortunately, the IPL will have started by the
time election starts and thus every batsman will influence party's potential
voters and that too for free.
Frock
Now this seems weird but a potent symbol nevertheless. Since
the idea of women empowerment gaining steam, this party symbol could cash in on
this opportunity. However, women are better identified with a saree or a
salwar-suit but in the absence of these in the list of allowed party symbols,
frock will serve the purpose equally well (A party can also use "Lady
Purse", which is also available as free symbol, if the idea of
"Frock" is not going down well).
Coconut
Indians use coconut on auspicious days, usually to mark a
new beginning. We buy a new home, we break a coconut. We buy a new scooter, we
break a coconut. In majority of Pujas, we break many coconuts. Going a little
further, in a temple, located in south, priests break coconut on the head of
blessing-seekers.
This kind of emotional attachment to the coconut renders it
impossible for the people to ignore it on the EVM.
Cot (Chaarpai)
