I am very fond of the Hindi serial- “Tarak Mehta ka Ulta chashma”, there is a character named “Atmaram Tukaram Bhide”, who happens to be an idealistic teacher. He always boasts of “in my times, there used to be such and such things”. Like wise , today ,I, too am feeling myself in that way when I remember the things in my younger days. Because this is the election time in India, so I wish to take a plunge down in the memory lane during late 70ies and 80ies when the elections were used to be volatile and sensitive.

It was the times of Indira Gandhi’s assassination and by default, Rajiv Gandhi inherited the throne of India. He was riding high on the sympathy wave for his re-election in 1984. This was the time of a new generation in Congress and many young people were staking their claim in building a ‘New India” under the young and dynamic leadership of Rajiv Gandhi. One such man was Arif Mohammad Khan ( currently Governer of Kerala) who himself was an idealistic and passionate young man at that time who was rubbing shoulders with his leader in the task of nation building. He got the Congress ticket from Bahraich (a city in the U.P.).

At that time, there was no social media and the enthusiastic party workers and the candidate himself used to make personal visits to the people for canvassing. There was a celebration of democracy everywhere. The tea stalls and public places were rife with election issues and the advantages and disadvantages of electing someone. The people were passionate about the dream of a “New India” and there was a festival -like atmosphere all around. The troups of workers and volunteers started their day early and came back late in the night. The smell of puris and vegetables that were cooked for workers, was dissolved in the air. Though it was late at night, the places were lively with activities. The people were analyzing their efforts of the bygone day and preparing for the next day’s onslaughts. In one corner, some young men were assorting the election material like banners, badges and handbills for distribution the next day. In another far corner, some people were discussing the strategies. The passion was dissolved in the air. Everyone was feeling very important in the crusade.

Arif Mohammad Khan , or Arif Bhai, as was fondly called, was the popular and lovable person who created an image of a principled , honest, wealthy and resourceful person who was out to do his part in nation- building. There was another important character named Ashutosh Mishra or Ashutosh Bhaiyya, an intellectual, scholar, professor and columnist ,and above all, a man who had nothing to worry about and a happy -go-lucky man (I think currently he might have been retired as a professor of political science at Lucknow University.) Ashu Bhai , as I already said, a “ramta jogi, bahta pani” type of person, was very near to the heart of Arif Bhai who wrote many speeches and did much counseling for him. His advice was very important for Arif Bhai. The Speeches of Arif Bhai were so amazing that a big crowd used to gather wherever he made speeches, no matter if the venue was at the roadside or on a big ground. Arif Bhai was very popular among women and children too. Whenever he made the door-to-door visits, he was thronged around by the enthusiastic men ,women and even children alike.

The further story is that Arif bhai got an astounding victory in that election and became a minister in Rajiv Gandhi’s cabinet. But this association didn’t last long and after some time when Rajiv Gandhi overturned the Supreme Court decision in Shabano case, he resigned from the cabinet, and from the Congress party. But by doing this, he became instantly the hero of youth who were out to destroy shackles and build up the India of their dreams.

In those times, there were slogans like ” Jab tak sooraj -chand rahega , Indira tera naam rahega” ( Indira , your name will last till eternity) and the Congress party rode on that wave to attain more than 400 seats and gained three fourth majority in the House. At that time, people were emotional and easily swayed, but ,in contrast, nowadays they become so alert to their self-interests that it is not possible to be carried away easily. But we are now missing the actions and the feelings of those old days when elections were celebrated as festivals. Alas ! the hustle and bustle of those days are no more now. During those times, door- to- door campaigning and the sound of loudspeakers were enough to make us feel the celebration of democracy. Now, due to many restrictions on election spendings, there is no more use of banners and hand-bills and badges. I remember during those days, smaller children were so fond of badges and flags of parties that many of them wore different badges of opposition and ruling parties togather. In totality, it is a nostalgic feeling…Gone are those days….