Nerve Endings Firing Away

I submitted my electronic vote today. Nope, I did not exercise my overseas electoral franchise for the Lok Sabha elections but rather voted for the Indian Students Association elections in the university. Although at a much microscopic level, the political machinations and horse-trading activities are no less. I was one of the few people who founded this organization and saw it grow from mere five members to an astounding 180-plus member in a matter of couple of years. To top it, I also unfortunately happened to be at the center of raging controversy albeit on the “good” side during election time two years back. That controversy split the association into two unequal parts but generated lot of bad blood, which continues to this day.

Today, I am far removed from the Executive Board activities and am thankfully content at being a spectator for the various activities, which unfortunately have dwindled. Excuses of assignments, midterms, projects, exams are commonly offered by the officers to explain away the lack of activities but come election time, the air is rife with rumors and the mailing lists are abuzz with activity. It is almost as if electioneering is infused deeply within Indian blood and brings along with it numerous controversies and back-biting. What is it in elections that brings out the worst in Indians? Pleasantries are forgotten and candidates are propped up with obvious backing of potent king-makers. The fact that the job of an ISA President is virtually thankless and comes burdened with mostly altruistic responsibilities is totally lost on these political gamblers.

The euphoria of a victory dies soon after the full impact of unwanted responsibilities of attending the International Office retreats, meetings, drafting association budgets and coordinating cultural activities hits home. By my own experience, the President is the last one to be credited with success and the first one to be blamed with failure. It does bring recognition and prestige in the international community at the university level but of course, that is conditional on whether you have done a good job.

It is a weird coincidence that the election air is all around and I am enjoying the local political games that otherwise intelligent and mature graduate students can be involved in. Overconfident (often false) statements of your reputation, poll-rigging, threatening students taking your class with a failing grade if they vote against them, are just some of the things I have overheard. Morality and ethics have taken a direct plunge even at a measly association election level where clearly financial gain is almost negligible (if you intend to be honest, of course).

I have embroiled myself far too many times in attempting to uncover dishonest practices and corrupt behavior but find myself a mute spectator this time. Maybe because of the dearth of leadership talent or plain apathy. I hope it isn’t the latter. The results should be out by the end of this week and the dust will settle. Things will return to normal.