Lok Sabha Election 2024 has put glaring spotlights on the Election Commission of India (ECI) – without doubt a lasting legacy of our forefathers. Founded in 1950, this constitutional body has proven, yet again, its independence, fairness and competence to conduct perhaps the most difficult elections in the world. Covering an amazing 969 million voters, over a million polling booths – including some at extremely difficult-to-reach places – 543 parliamentary constituencies, massive outreach needed to cover marginalised groups, tribal communities, PwDs – some in dangerous and hostile regions – dealing with nearly 25 languages, hundreds of political parties, never ending fights over ‘symbols’, incessant criticism about efficacy and foolproof nature of EVMs … I am sure the three election commissioners and their staff must’ve had their hands more than full for the last few months and would have heaved a collective sigh of relief on presenting the list of elected members to the President of India. Successful completion of the humungous exercise is indeed a matter of great pride for India and yet another feather in the already crowded plume of the commission.
When our founding fathers conceived the ECI and formed it, they would’ve probably never imagined that 75 years later the august body would be required to handle such mind boggling logistics. After the founder CEC Sukumar Sen (1950-58) we have had probably 15-20 other distinguished persons heading the organisation, including high profile names like S.L. Shakdhar, T.N. Seshan and Dr Quraishi. Kudos to each one of them, their colleague commissioners and thousands of staff members involved in the frequent massive exercise – not only for the Lok Sabha elections but also those to elect MLAs of the state assemblies, civic bodies, bye- elections etc. – their work is pretty much continuous. Plenty of cynics and doubting Thomases about their integrity, petitions in various courts, random counting of VVPAT reports … all done in the presence of agents of different parties is all par for the course. That they come out clean every time is a great tribute to their hard work, meticulous planning and flawless execution of the maddening job. That it adds hugely to our standing internationally is an understatement. Truly a great legacy of modern India.
Starting from the Constitution – that holy book of our democracy that has truly defined and shaped India – drafted by the great team led by Dr Ambedkar, the institution of the ECI must rank pretty close. The great scholar and first Vice President of India had described the ‘idea of India’ as “a symphony where there are, as in an orchestra, different instruments, each with its particular sonority, all combining to interpret one particular score”. Jawaharlal Nehru defined ‘the first task’ as one “to free India through a new constitution to feed the starving people and clothe the naked masses and to give every Indian the fullest opportunity to develop himself/herself according to his/her capacity”. Gobind Ballabh Pant articulated about ‘abolition of zamindari’. And, of course, Sardar Patel made sure to unite the 565 princely states ruled by different kings and not formally part of the British empire. Surely the ECI has played an enduring role over the last 74 years to oversee that the ‘idea of India’ continues to thrive.
Even though I have started by reminiscing about such hallowed institutions like the Constitution and the ECI and clubbing anything merely economic, in the same column, may be considered sacrilegious by many of your readers; I would still take the risk of being branded an ignoramus and mention the very recent (2017) introduction of the Goods & Services Tax (GST) which although just a fiscal reform which, to my mind, has the makings of yet another legacy which is already proving its huge advantages and is bound to continue to benefit our governance in ways that not many other structural changes can. It has metamorphosed our indirect taxes regime and endeavours to empower the government to rake in ever increasing funds to continue development and create a strong social security net.
And, finally, what I want to mention here – and is bound to make the puritans laugh – is a small infrastructural reform that has changed the way people in the NCR move. I am talking about the Delhi Metro that logs an eye popping six million passenger trips every day! It would not be improper to say that without this ‘institution’ – created by that great Metro Man of India E. Shridharan – the National Capital Region would’ve just stopped moving! I can’t imagine how, in the absence of the metro, thousands of buses, taxis, private cars, autos and two-wheelers would’ve found space on our roads to move at all. Sreedharan’s work of course, didn’t end with the Delhi Metro; he has really changed the face of public transport in India and also helped Bangladesh in setting up the metro rail system there. Actually, even before taking charge of Delhi Metro, he had set up the Konkan Railway and worked on many others after completing his exemplary work in Delhi. I think this too is a lasting legacy of modern India.
I have illustrated just three; I am sure there are numerous others.
