The idea of working late isn't something that makes anyone happy. Neither did it me. But strangely enough, staying up last night till 1 am checking out all the forms collected, picking out the mistakes, curing them as far as possible and keeping it ready for today, people running about finding the necessary forms, the sigh of relief and the quiet that descended upon the office when dinner arrived, the endless cups of tea.. somehow, I have to admit, I quite enjoyed myself. When I finally reached home at half past one in the morning, I simply couldnt go to sleep despite being dead busy since 9 am, what with the adrenaline rushing! And frankly, I'm happier and more experienced to handle the next such assignment that comes to my way. Elections, I have realised, is a lot dependent on experience.
Nov 12, 2009
Nov 7, 2009
Yet Another..
Two things that are never-ending in this State and I suppose, in this country are Melas and Elections. They just keep coming at you. I spent last year involved in one humongous Mela and 2 huge elections. This year began with a small Mela, spilled over into a big Election and another follows soon after. I really wonder why there isn't a staff dedicated to this job..
Talking of Melas, Elections is no different from one. Involves massive management of thousands of people, planning ahead to the minutest detail and getting behind and yelling at every one to get all the work actually done - almost like a huge Indian wedding. I'm still to find one single person who knows exactly all that everyone else under him/with him actually has to do.
Today another round of Elections began and the day was spent with a bunch of us: me and my team sitting and chatting away, while we waited for people to turn up, about our respective experiences of Elections. And after ages I laughed and laughed till my eyes started watering and stomach hurt. Each of us has experienced the ruckus that miscreants simply love to create outside the polling stations at the drop of a hat; unbelievably dumb people who go through hours of voting without realising that the votes are not being registered; drunkards among the workers who disappear without giving the proper forms and others spend the night hunting for the guy in every corner of the city; those who come in big groups and hurl the choicest abuses on the staff for keeping them waiting... so many more. I remember how hassled and harrassed I felt then. But a day like today, when you sit down with the people you otherwise yell at all day, and share these stories and laugh out loud with them.. it makes it worth it to have had these experiences, just to be able to share them.
It's a rare day and one to remember.
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