Poll Stars

“Each of us pinned up a badge that said ‘Do Not Vote for Criminals’ and went knocking from door to door exhorting people to step out of their homes and vote,” said Jawahar,a resident of the railway quarters at Khar and the oldest among the students. The usually serene interiors of the library were transformed into an election help centre abuzz with activity on polling day.

Chairperson of the library Anandani Thakoor from the Khar Residents Association said that the students enthusiastically decided to put in a day’s work and even managed to embarrass many into voting.

The 3,000-sq ft Kamalabai Nimbar Pustakalaya was started almost eight decades ago by an American who had made her home in Khar and was run by a trust comprising several prominent people like politician SK Patil,first chief minister of Bombay state BG Kher and former municipal commissioner PR Nayak. Over the last 20 years,it has turned into a study centre for students from Khar and the nearby suburbs. “There are students who like the ambience here and hence come to study from as far as Jogeshwari. As we were trying to put together ways in which we could help out with the election process,I decided to get the students to pay back to the community whatever they have got from it,” said Anandani.

So,on Thursday,instead of poring through their books as usual,the students gathered at the library at 8 am after having cast their votes. Armed with a list of streets to ensure that no building is left uncovered,they then trooped off in groups of two and three. “We went to every flat in Khar. We told them that we are not asking them to vote for a particular party but just to vote,” said Vignesh Mehta,a 23-year old chemical engineer who is studying for his Actuary exams scheduled two weeks later.

Residents who didn’t know their polling booth and other details were given the number of the library where a group of volunteers including Anandani gave out the details over the phone. In homes were the students found senior citizens,cars were arranged to carry them to their polling booths. They called it a day only at 4.30 pm,thirty minutes before polling came to a close. By then,several residents who had initially greeted them with skepticism had left the comfort of their homes to exercise their vote.

“There were some who told us that their votes will not change anything. We told them that if they do not vote,they cannot expect any change. And they were convinced. We were glad that we spent one entire day doing something for our nation,” said Vignesh.