Friday, October 2, 2009

German election 2009

I had always wondered how the election process in other countries look like when i was in India.

In India, the election process is a mammoth exercise. Not only because the number of people who attend

in it is a big number, but the overall arrangements, leaflets, advertisements, speeches etc itself will

make a huge impact in the day to day life of every common man who is in India at that time.

Now comes Germany. Compared to India, the German election was very smooth, no sound, not much campaigning etc...

By this, don’t assume that there is no good democratic process in Germany. It is very well happening here....
This year , for example, It took place by and large a good polling. 71% of the public polled this time which is
one of the worst polling after the second world war. In India the average rate stands in between 60-65 even though
in my native state, Kerala, it will go as high as 80-85% sometimes....

What I don’t understand in Germany was the lack of general discussion among the people about its leaders
or the different political parties. Neither there is a big interest in the day to day issues nor they are
overwhelmed of any of the political activities. Some of my colleagues are not even bothered, but some
have really made up their mind regarding their likes and dislikes. I think there is a big belief , which is a very
common understanding among most of the people here, that basically a political affinity is only a
personal activity.

Of course in India it is much different. Not only because India is the biggest democratic country in the world, but in general
people, are very much into the process by campaigning for their respective parties and leaders. But this overwhelming
approach is clearly vacant in the common man in Germany.

May be the Indian society also has to make less noise and execute their franchise in a smooth manner. But , in a spectrum of
neighboring countries, which are ruled by dictators and religious monopolies, one cannot rule out the necessity to
make enough noise so that world know that, here is a country with 1.1 billion people who safeguard the democracy,
in spite of all odds...
Yes, I am proud to be an Indian and I am proud to note that Germany also go in the same path in almost same manner.
Can we still nurture the one world concept through these elections ? no idea... Time only can tell it....

-Prakash.