Mangalore, Apr 30: Though the turnout for voting in both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts for the Lok Sabha election started on a slow note, the turnout of senior citizens and  the physically challenged voters at the booths has been quite impressive. In the first half of the polling process, they came out in good numbers and bared the sun and the sweat to ensure that their votes do not go waste.

The spirit of such senior voters was particularly pleasing because of the fact that they came to the polling booths on their own and not because of any force, with the urge to exercise the right to choose their representative, fully powered by their will and spirit to vote.

Lengthy queues were witnessed only in a few booths in and around the city. The mood of the other voters in general was disappointing to say the least, as the heat and interest generated by the active campaigning by local, state and national leaders seemed not enough to lift the spirits of the people in general and give rise in them an urge to vote. The lack of interest on the part of younger voters was appalling.

However, while going around the city booths, we encountered an interesting senior lady, whose spirit was indomitable. The lady in her late eighties or early nineties had come all alone to the Jeppu Jerosa School booth. Curiously, she carried a broom in her hand, for reasons best known to her. Perhaps, she was sweeping her house and she suddenly decided to exercise her franchise  came with a prop in her hand!

She did not carry her identity card, but her name was available in the voters list. But, she was very persistent with her resolve to cast her vote, and was not ready to give credence to the information that she needed to produce her identity card to be able to cast her vote. However, at the polling centre, she said that, she had her ID at home, and she can bring it down. But her spirit to vote, even after going through the trouble, indeed was admirable, as she can be a role model for the young and the middle aged people who refrained from voting,  may be for personal or general reasons.

Though the lady had a hearing problem, we succeeded in enquiring her name, after repeating out question, "What is your name?" thrice. She replied "Kamala".

'When asked what is her age, she said "Ereg Gothu ? Enk Nenapu Ijji" (Who knows, I don't remember !)

Before entering the polling centre, the policeman on duty stopped her for carrying the broom with her, but a reluctant Kamala was in no mood to listen. "Without this, I cannot vote," she replied to the policeman, making the smiling policeman to allow her to proceed with the formalities.

We were waiting for some time outside, to see whether she carried the broom in  to hit  someone inside or it was  her passion to carry the broom wherever she goes...she did not return for long, may be she was not let to vote without the ID card.

We heard from the policeman that someone had been sent already to her home to bring  her ID card!

One must salute this great woman, who came all the way alone to vote without the help of anyone, and showed to the people what does the true Indian spirit mean. Shall we say now, 'Jai Ho Kamalakka !!'  (If we say 'Jai Ho Kamala' people may say we are supporting a particular political party!).

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