Vote for change

Updated on: Monday, July 18, 2011

It's polling day. Voters line up with their ID cards. Party functionaries walk about excitedly, talking in low voices. Candidates fidget nervously. At the two polling booths, members of the election committee are busy double checking the voters list. Election observers have just taken their seats. And when the clock strikes 11 , the first voter enters the booth. He is S. Niteen. He is a tad uncomfortable as it is his first time, but he does just fine – he even poses for a photograph on the way.

This is not your regular parliament or assembly election. True, it's a battle between two promising parties. But every voter here, including the candidates and party functionaries are children. Nachiyar Vidyalayam, Pollachi, a school run by Appachi Cottons, has come up with this offbeat method to teach children the Indian political system. The activity calls for team work, creativity, planning and execution, all of which, according to correspondent Mani Chinnaswamy, bring out the best in children. What with the Samacheer Kalvi issue giving them all the free time, it may as well be put to good use, he adds.

Says Mani, “Ask a kid what he wants to become in the future and he would instantly say doctor or engineer.”

But what about politics? Our children don't give it the slightest thought, he feels. “As a school, it's our responsibility to show them alternative career options. Make them aware of what's happening around them,” he says. True, Civics is part of the curriculum, but there's nothing like learning it the practical way, he adds.

What are elections? What is a party? What does it do? What are the duties of a leader? What is a party manifesto? Children found the answers themselves, with no textbooks or classrooms. For one week, students from classes four to nine involved themselves in rigorous ‘party' activities. They were divided into two parties – Visionary Youth Party (VYP) and Next Generation Party (NGP).

Party presidents, spokespersons and general secretaries were identified. With the help of teachers, the parties came up with campaign materials, including symbols and flags. VYP's symbol is an ‘eye' while that of NGP is a ‘thumbs-up'. “Every class is a constituency. A constituency has four panchayat presidents, two MLAs and an MP,” explains Mani. “The ruling term is five months after which the next election will be conducted.” Parties prepared manifestos and campaigned hard in the school. Debates were conducted where candidates took each other head on.

Election jitters

Minutes before the elections, T. Gopi Krishnan, the soft-spoken president of VYP is a tense young man. Will their party win this time? “I hope so,” he smiles. Gopi's party has promised to form a sports club and a cricket team in school, if elected. He says that he will also push for regular field trips and Science exhibitions. “Saplings, saplings,” interjects his general secretary V. Thenmozhi. “We will plant saplings on the birthdays of students in their name,” she says.

J. Jaya Krishnan, NGP's president says he will bring an indoor stadium and audio/video classes to school, if his party comes to power. The 14-year-old also assures more sports and extra curricular activities.

The manifestos have interesting claims. A candidate standing for panchayat president, for example, says that she will speak on behalf of the shyer students who hesitate to voice their concerns. By 1 p.m., the ballot boxes are sealed and the counting commences 30 minutes later. Gopi Krishnan and Jaya Krishnan eye the counting process in anticipation. Who will it be? The entire school is gathered in the auditorium where results are telecast live.

And as the results start coming in, it appears to be a landslide for VYP. NGP gathers momentum in a ward or two but at the end of the day, it's VYP that emerges victorious. Mani announces the result to the audience. “VYP will be forming the government.”

Gopi and the gang are jubilant. The little ones of his party crowd around him in joy. Gopi can't stop smiling. So, which election promise will his party fulfil first? “Cricket of course!” he says.

Gopi aspires to become an aeronautical engineer. But now that he's got a taste of politics, will he try a hand at it in the future? “Definitely,” he smiles. “I'm beginning to like it a lot.”

Vote for change

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