From My Nostalgia Diary

                      Our College Elections

                                         When I was studying for my graduation at Karnataka College in the early 70’s, the college elections were quite famous. The whole college used to enjoy that process. It was an occasion for the boys and girls to develop friendship with one another by introducing and canvassing for themselves or about their friends. The Candidates standing for the election used to spend huge amount of money on canvassing. Unmindful of studies, the friends of the contestants used to canvass actively for nearly one month. Whether win or not, the contestants definitely used to get famous and popular. Competition, jealousy, hat redness – also prevailed under the cover of election. Day and night, students schemed to win their respective candidates by hook or crook.  During the classes, candidates standing for the election would come with a huge group of fans and supporters to canvass in the classrooms, getting the permission of lecturers. During that time, we were getting heaps and heaps of leaflets, of which we made aeroplanes and arrows and flew them in the classrooms once the canvassing group stepped out. Sometimes the arrows followed them to them to the door. It used to be like a festival for us. Some contestants used to bring motorbikes and cars for campaigning, but a contestant had brought even an elephant for the canvassing. Sitting on the elephant, the contestant took huge round in the college premises, shocking and delighting everyone at the same time. We all friends still remember that Jumbo campaign. From this, one can imagine the magnitude of the college election. On the final day, means the voting day, the huge ground in front of the college  carpeted with colorful leaflets used to look like a piece of earth art. Now, sitting quietly, I think how those boys managed to get and spend such a huge sum of money for the elections. Most of the Candidates who won the election as general secretaries always entered in to active politics later in life. The elected candidates used to arrange programs actively from their respective departments. With their efforts, the annual sports and the annual gatherings became memorable for us. Now it is a history.