Elections in JNU

Elections in JNU are a big deal. It is an event I had been hoping to witness once at least. Yesterday, the presidential debate took place. Needless to say, I thought of IIT Kanpur and the presidential debate there. The two could not have been more different, despite nearly identical formats except that JNU debate has an elaborate section during which candidates question other candidates. Yet, most questions are dodged, blamed on misunderstandings, lack of evidence. The answers are rarely intelligent, often emotionally loaded, frequently trying to side-step by questioning back in the 'tab-ap-kahan-the' mode. Bollywood fans would remember Vijay's answers in Deewar, who continues telling his cop brother: 'jao pehle us admi ka sign leke ao...' The charge and the tempo is similar, except that there is no Salim-Javed moment which allows SK to argue: 'doosron ke paap ginaane se khud ke paap kam nahin ho jaate, bhai'.

The crowd goes wild, the daphlis roar and insane relentless clapping goes on. The lines are neatly divided. The proportion of the neutrals, the still-undecided, is much less. And it is a hell of a long event, one that goes on and on. Which means more chai and much more charcha. Which means open semi-lit spaces and not an enclosed auditorium. So you take a walk, come back, meet friends, discuss the match earlier in the day, gossip about new and old faces, show your juniors the legends of the campus for they are all there, and meet the fresh faces painted with child-like excitement or amateurish exhaustion.If you are looking for wit, you'd be disappointed; if you sleep early, you shouldn't have come. The candidates shout at the top of their voices in spite of the giant speakers, and very few throats survive the evening, not to speak of ears. The lines of argument are mostly ideological, the cartography of debate hovers around the origins. Below-the-belt is encouraged and appreciated, Election Committee sounds quite like Lok Sabha speaker during a heated debate.

An interesting moment last night reminded me of one long time back on Hall 2, IIT Kanpur terrace. Someone asked Mihir and Lamba, both presidential candidates, to speak of something they truly admire in each others. Their answers were brilliant, measured, and cautious so as to not undercut their own strengths. The similar question here was successfully dodged, though. Yet, a night worth preserving in the memory.