Vote for Tinku


Tyagi Saab lives on EC Road. He’s lived there for 40 years and has developed a deep and lasting friendship with his house painter that goes beyond mere transactional relationships. He has a very good reason to do so.

Every year after the monsoons his boundary wall needs a rub-off, scaling and a fresh coat. Not because last year’s paint is worn off, but because he can hardly see the paint anymore. His entire wall; post the monsoons is covered with posters. Posters that say ‘Vote for Tinku for President’. ‘Tinku’ in the last sentence is just a fictional place holder and can be easily replaced by Dabbu, Shabbu, Nikku, Pappu, Pinto, Munna, Kaku, and Rocky. All probable candidates for the coveted college election posts and aspiring future politicians.

Just for kicks, I decided to monitor one of the rallies that started around Rajpur Road and ended at the college. The objective… to observe and examine how hundreds of young people, with one objective and goal are brought together. Maybe this way, we may find some answers to our country’s leadership needs.

At the Nanny’s Bakery cross-roads, a few from the pack broke off to get their nicotine. I walked up to them, hoping to strike a conversation, which happened effortlessly. I came straight to the point. “So why do you support Tinku? What are his plans if he wins? Has he shared his vision; about the efforts he will make, to improve the college and its functioning on being elected?” I stated the rapid fire. “Sure” the largest built of the pack answered. “He is very smart. He is also our friend. We trust him. He is the best of the candidates. Vote for Tinku. Vote for Tinku”

“I trust your judgment.” I interjected. “But I guess I should have explained the question better…what I meant was, do you really know what you want for the college and hence have decided to support the one that aligns with your vision?” I continued, hoping to have driven the point home and looking intently in their direction for a ray of light.

This time the pan-masala chewing, smaller built but sharp eyed boy replied in a tone that clearly indicated his intellectual superiority…“ You see…This is not that simple. It takes an acute understanding of human nature to select a candidate. We are supporting him because he understands us. He is very smart. He is also our friend. We trust him. He is the best of the candidates. Vote for Tinku. Vote for Tinku.”

I didn’t even attempt to extend the conversation further and walked towards Tyagi Saab’s house hoping for a cup of ‘tea without sugar’.

Tyagi Saab heard my episode without any reaction whilst stirring the tea. When I insisted that he shares his older and mature opinion about the episode all he said was “Vineet, isn’t this exactly how we choose leaders? Do you know why you vote for one party and not the other? Do you know enough about the candidate before the elections? We vote for friends. We trust them. We believe they are the best. So shut up and have your tea. I have better things to worry about… like taking posters off my walls.”

The tea was really nice. I wouldn’t be vising Tyagi Saab for some time now. Vote for Tinku.

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