The Final Standing - 16th May 2014 and Beyond

The Indian General Elections of 2014 has been unprecedented in many ways. From the innovations in campaigning to the decisive mandate - it has been unusual and path breaking. And more importantly, it had succeeded in bringing out the masses of India to debate their political future and participate whole heartedly in the world's largest democratic elections. I and my friends had followed the elections like never before. Many hours were spent in lengthy debates. The following is the last email I had sent out to our group of friends - as a concluding argument from my side. The email was sent at 0249 Hrs on 16th May 2014. By noon, India had a new government.


Letter to friends and colleagues


Dear Friends,

We are in the final lap now - just hours away. The finish line is within striking distance. By the time you read this, in all probability, the mists would have cleared. India would have spoken, unequivocally and unambiguously. Our next Prime Minister designate would have been unveiled. In the common parlance - it would have been all over, bar the shouting.

But now that I am penning these thoughts - it is still a few hours away. Long and hectic days of work, gruelling travel schedules across the country still cannot lure me to bed for a well deserved sleep. I had intended to analyze and predict the results - and end our own little world of 2014 elections with an amateur exit poll of sorts. Fate (in the form of stringent work schedule) conspired to the contrary. So here I am on this last day (wee hours of the morning actually) with no predictions - just stray thoughts and a calm wait for the morrow. So much has been said; so much has been theorized - is there anything yet unsaid? Perhaps there is.

To me this election has been a grand nine months long playback of the eternal hollywood classic "12 angry men" or our very own bollywood remake "Ek ruka hua faisla". Remember the movie? The means has been different, the context different, the arguments different, but the theme remains the same - moulding of opinion. On this lonely night, it increasingly appears to me that the chief protagonist, Mr. Modi (much like his celluloid counterpart) produced a master class in persuasion. From a middle level Chief Minister, reviled by electronic and print media and unknown to large parts of the country - through a focused and well crafted narrative, has transformed himself to the pivot, the fulcrum on which the nation moves or speaks. Nobody can stop talking about him. If this is not persuasion, what is?

Another dramatic shift is in the general middle class perceptions. Politics and elections have suddenly become fashionable. For us who have been brought up in cynicism and character portrayals of politics as a "dirty game" and politicians as "not well intentioned people" - this is indeed a paradigm shift. Electoral participation (heat and grime included) is the new "cool thing". From animated discussions to door-to-door campaigns, good men and women (not few, in large numbers) have poured out in to the streets from their comforts of jobs, colleges and homes. The black-ink mark has become a new fashion statement. Voting has become "an achievement" for the "uninitiated". India's young has rediscovered politics. The "Gandhi Topi" (in its several avatars) is back where it belongs. India will never be the same again.

Thirdly - electioneering itself has changed. The next few months will undoubtedly analyze this. Learned people will write articles and dissect the events to reconstruct the thoughts behind it. Much like how a "mela" in a small town commoditizes as well as energizes the local populace - so has this elections. From subtle advertising, commercial branding to psychological behavioural analysis driven targeted campaigns backed up by old fashioned oratory - this election has been a spectacle, a nationwide mela. Big bucks, technology and political reinvention has moved elections from the drawing room of politicians to the cradle of branding experts, mass communication professionals and technology and content gurus. From opening up new revenue streams to dramatic changes in information dissemination - electioneering has encountered major upheavals. Move over USA - India has come of age.

In more ways than one - this is indeed a watershed election. Much has changed - and we have quite simply crossed the point of no return.

Over the past several months, it has been a pleasure friends to have had the honour of debating with you. If at times I have gone overboard and hurt your opinions and feelings, a word of regret is offered. If it has happened, it was inadvertent - fuelled by the passions of conviction rather than malice.

So who will win today?

Hope will.

May our next PM personify this hope and live up to the belief, conviction and passions of the nation.

Jai Hind.