Mothers united at birth

Mothers United at birth. 

Birth is an even that Mothers only can understand. 

Just heard a soft crying sound, immediately my mind knew it’s a cry of a new born. Opened window to try to find where this baby is crying.

Saw at the balcony of house in front of my building a woman was standing holding a baby. The lady was lady of house. For a year now this family has shifted to our colony. The couple had a son aged approximately 5 years. The man often visited this house for two days in a week. Sometimes in holidays also. 

In past there had been few fights, oral exchange of heated words. War of words. Through those war of words I came to know that lady of house is second or third wife of that person. 

One day some one asked where Mr Reddy lives? I said I don’t know. Few days Later that person was there in that house where this lady of house lived. That time I got to understand that he is Mr Reddy and she was his wife and this person who had asked me about Mr Reddy is a known to person of Mr Reddy. Still I am presuming. 

One day another woman was sitting on that balcony and she was talking on mobile phone loudly. She looked somewhat elder to that lady of house. Little thinner than her, Nose ring ear rings and wearing salwar Kurta. 

After few days fight took larger proportion and grew into divisions in already settled colony. Few families were siding with this newly arrived family and few sided with other family. Signature campaign started. Both parties reached police station and complained to administration. 

On earlier Eid Mubarak gift had arrived for us from that house. But this fight ruined whole of atmosphere. Customary gifts of eatery and sweets stopped. Now Muslim brotherhood came into being. Both these Muslim families and few other secular families sided on one side few supported that lady who fought single handedly with that Muslim family. 

We who were neutral and had balanced view suffered the most. Since both parties thought of me as culprit. I mean both parties tried to maintain a distance from me.

I was safe I thought? My immediate neighbors told that police investigation was there.

For few days two or three ladies were continuously visiting this house, must be staying there as most of the times of day they are visible in that balcony. 

Feature wise they looked like sisters. One man who participated in fight had told that this man of house is his brother in law, as his wife is sister of lady of house. His wife was there too in this three.

As more light dawned we came to know that This baby was born to the son of that man of house i.e Mr Reddy from his earlier wife. I presume that the lady with nose ring which often visits this house must be first wife and she might be the mother of this young man who just became father.  

I had seen an old aged couple also visiting this house. Lady must be mother of lady of house. They stay for few days and leave. Dress of old lady also indicated that she hailed from Mopla (moplah) Muslim family. She was most gracious lady. 

The new born baby and his uncle have age difference of 7 years. Uncle of new born is son of grandfather of new born from second wife. 

Thus the mother of new born, two grandmother’s, and three aunt grandmother were there to buck up the baby and the mother. All these women are core of strength for this new mother. At this event of first birth to her she needs all experience and comforting, and these ladies are providing all that necessary for a new mother.

His father, his young boy uncle, his grandfather all were also there. 

That’s how family grows and binds together into a family bond.

एही ठैंया झुलनी हेरानी हो रामा EHI THAIYAN JHULNI HAIRANI HO RAMA

While going through a Hindi Text book prescribed in Class 10 of CBSE board, I found an interesting story written by Shri Shivprasad Mishra nicknamed Rudra. This story was taken from his creation on Ganga. The story titled in the class 10th book as EHI THAIYAN JHULNI HAIRANI HO RAMA

 searching on google  i found one link of a song. In this song the word JHULNI is replaced by MOTIA. Jhulni is the nose ring or ear ring or forehead ornament ("benda" or matha tika) in the common dialect. In this video of film song Respected Hema Malini ji performed the dance, but with totally different bhaav (mood /emotion) from that story. In the story emotion was of PAIN in the heart of Singer, who secretly in her heart felt kindness towards the boy-TUNNU, who had been killed during riot and it was said that British Police/force killed him including all those who raised voice against the atrocities of the British rulers. 

The objective of that time was to discard anything of foreign origin even cloths etc, everything even the ruler?

This lad -TUNNU was also in the procession. He loved the lady singer Dulari Bai and had gifted her a KHADI Saree. This lady singer scolded the boy since being a young boy & belonging to a noble family( !!) he should become a good boy/Man and do not run after a "singer" Nautch girl- that will bring ill fame on him and his family.
See how great was that lady. She threw his gift(saree). Tears rolled out in eyes of that young lad Tunnu, great hurt he felt,. Tears dropped on saree. The boy went away in pain. She immediately picked up that gift, took it into her room, closed the doors and started weeping. She kept on kissing the saree (and those tears), It was a gift that No one else had brought for her.
All gifts brought to her earlier had ulterior motives, She never wanted those gifts. Deep in her heart she felt that this gift of Khadi Saree is the most precious she ever got? It was due to pure love for her that Tunnu brought this gift.
She had been continuously scolding and insulting this boy but this boy always takes out time to come at her door just to see her and tried to talk to her. He could never talked to her in a frank manner.

एही ठैंया झुलनी हेरानी हो रामा की नायिका बनारसी गौनहारिन दुलारी बाई बटलोही में चुरती हुई दाल को क्रोध में ठोकर मारकर गिरा देती है। उसकी ऐसी तल्खी, तेवर और साफगोई से प्रभावित होकर सोलह वर्षीय टुन्नू उससे प्रेम करने लगता है।  दुलारी को यह प्रेम अनैतिक लगता है क्योंकि दुलारी और टुन्नू के बीच उम्र का बहुत बडा फासला है, जिसे नैतिक और सामाजिक स्वीकृति नहीं मिल सकती है। उसी टुन्नू की भेंट की हुई खद्दर की साडी से सरेआम दुलारी फांसी लगाकर मर जाती है। इस प्रेम में ढेर सारे विमर्श हैं, सवाल हैं, जो आधुनिक साहित्य में अब जाकर आए हैं। बहती गंगा है।

She was invited (dragged and pressurised by police goons) to perform in mehfil by those very police who knew that her  lover boy has been killed. She had no option and thus performed.
She sang this song एही ठैंया झुलनी हेरानी हो रामा.. indicating that she lost her honour or pride at this very place? what she can do?
and those very people, in front of whom she is singing are responsible for murder of her true LOVE.  How cruel those people were. 

What hurt me is the attitude towards a singer, dancer. Often we sing in praise of our rich cultural Heritage? but bitter truth is that still in New India (as a society) we don't give dignity or respect to those singer//dancer ladies as an individual, who by some compulsion had to choose this profession. 

I dont know? but it is said that this story was written inspired by the famous Singer Rassolan Bai, who is hailed as one of the top most singer from Banares, Varanasi. She was a great artist of Hindustani Classical music. She sang on All India Radio. It is also said that she died in very bad financial condition.
She had discarded Kotha(system), immediately during the independence she came out and started performing in open public functions. Earlier most of the tawaif were singing inside the Kotha or in invited closed mehfills of few rich patrons or in the courts of Raja Nawabs etc. I dont know how far it is true. But whatever happened, i have great respect for her. If you listen to her songs now available in youtube etc one can know how great singer she was.
Rasoolan and Batoolan were sisters, Ustad Bismillah Khan the Shehnai master had also said in some talks that as a child he was very much attarcted towards Hindustani Singing while listening to these sisters, he used to go for Riyaz(practice) through a lane in which these sister lived in Banares.

this song Thumri sung by Vidushi Girja Devi ji

 

same song Yehi thaiyan  sung by great Thumri Singer of Poorvi Ang Smt Rasoolan Bai ji

 

Festival of Tribal Dance

This i had written after watching Festival of Tribal Dance, conceived by most renowned Theatre personality Ratan Thiyam. I had been his admirer since many years. At kanpur i used to get news about him through Doordarshan or News Papers. When i was in Delhi then he had shifted in Manipur. But when i heard the news that Festival is going to happen in Port Blair immediately i rushed to get a life time opportunity to see him live. Luckily i got seat just behind him. This concept of festival may be old but i got to know very recently. A good concept to combine the Song Dance and Theatre all together at one platform for Tribal communities to come and perform. All this happened under ageis of NSD National School of Drama.  In sidelines of this performances a workshop or seminar kind of thing was also there. Where various research workers and Tribal groups also interacted and presented their analysis etc. I was none of them but being an ardent lover of Arts- Dance i was attracted to this.

Ghalat Hai Diwane Teri Tohmat- Prabha Bharati

Prabha Bharati - Haye Haye Re Payal Bol Pari

Prabha Bharati- Ahle Mehfil Salaam Akhri Hai

Women are contributer to Agriculture but not much is said

There are certain works in fields traditionally done by women

Women work side by side with men ofhouseholds

women of household always work along with men

women of household do work continuously in fields

Women folk do help a lot in Agirculture related works as member of household

As per census 2011
Percentage of Male cultivators to total workers is 24.9. [Rural- 35.2
& Urban-2.7]. Percentage of Female cultivators to total workers is 24
[Rural-28.8 & Urban-3.1].

other wise the work participation ratio of women remains lower than
males. But above we find that female cultivators are just at equal
percentage approx. but still in rural areas the cultivator percentage
of women is recorded lower than males.
WPR female at all India level was 25.5% [rural – 30% and Urban-15.4%]
work participation of Males in 53.3% [Rural- 53% and Urban – 53.8%]

sankalp se siddhi

https://youtu.be/OrnymgT9dGo

प्रभु जी मेरे अवगुण चित ना धरो Prabhu ji mere avgun chit na dharo: said a Dancer to Swami Vivekananda

प्रभु जी मेरे अवगुण चित ना धरो  Prabhu ji mere avgun chit na dharo:
said a Dancer to Swami Vivekananda ji
Do you remember? I had read it in a book 35 years back. And this remained with me ever since.
Our India a land of great peoples. No doubt that Swami Vivekananda ji is Yug Purush as we can refer to him but he was born as Narendra Dutt.
Since then i had imagined how that lady, the dancer singer would have looked like? Any guess?

Here i wish to highlight the greatness of a lady, a woman, who as per then social perception was a dancer, courtesan and looked down upon by society. Since i dont know what exactly common people thought about her, but by listening and reading what people still today say about any woman or girl who dances on stage, gives me hint about what people back in those days might have thought about that lady. Obviously she might not have chosen dance as her profession by choice? It was forced upon her either by birth, or by forcibly kidnapping a girl or poverty. Other than these no other cause was there that had forced a girl to enter the profession of dancing girl, knowingly that what society at large perceived this profession.

No matter what was circumstances but few of such lady or women have shown how to shine in glory with their intelligence, will power or loyalty or love for nation.
Ajijun Bai, Hussna Bai of Kanpur, Most famous names which i have read are Rai Praveen of Orcha, a princely state of Madhya Pradesh. other one is this RoopKunwar or Lal kunwar i dont know correct name but she was the dance girl or Courtesan in court of a princely state of Rajasthan. There are two instances referred about Swami Vivekananda ji. If you google about it we get 2 links. One relates for this incident happened in Jaipur. Other relates it to Raja of Khetri. This later may be more authentic as Swami VivekaNanda met and became close friend of  Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri. He was the sole person who created a SWAMI out of Narendra Dutt, I think so. I searched for the wordings of this song but i got various types of references many were full of mistakes.

following paragraph i have taken from Wikipedia, why?

since in today's time people tend to believe this website (wikipedia or google or ?) more than my writing anything, that i have read, learned over last 50 years. Earlier in our India many things were taught or handed down by generation to generation through ORAL Tradition. Now days people have started asking for proof. Best example is of Shri Ram. Few in our secular India ask give any proof of existence of Shri Ram or few ask give any proof of Temple at birth place of Shri Ram. On other hand being asked about their faith and their belief they referred to something written 1400 years ago. In same breath they ask give proof of Mahabharat, Ramayan, or any thing which we have with us even Ved? Vedic literature Puran, Upnishads? all are a matter of faith or without any proof. So i dont know whether wikipedia or google will be considered as proof? or not?

Swami Vivekananda visited Khetri twice more in his lifetime— in April 1893 and in December 1897. In 1893, Vivekananda stayed in Khetri for three weeks— from 21 April to 10 May.^[9]

An incident that happened during his second visit, which was later widely analysed, relates to Ajit Singh organizing a function where a courtesan was to sing. Ajit Singh invited Vivekananda to attend the performance but Vivekananda refused the request, explaining that he was a monk and thus could not attend such performances. The dancing girl heard about this comment and at the function she sang a famous song by Sur—

O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities!

Thy name, O Lord, is Same-Sightedness.

Make us both the same Brahman!

The incident was an eye-opener for Vivekananda and he realized that everything is but the manifestation of God.^[13][14]

On 9 May, one day before leaving for Bombay, Vivekananda was asked to visit the women's section of the palace where he blessed Jai Singh, the newborn son of Ajit Singh.^[11]

^{this copy pasting also contains the links etc so that if anyone wishes to click it will lead to those links referred in this article on Wikipedia.}

these two friends exchanged letters also. 

But still we don't have a picture of that dancing girl who sang a song that enlightened Swami Vivekananda ji. It was a simple request from a dancing girl to a Swami, that being a swami you should be unbiased? and dont look at my avagun, bad virtue or karma etc you are a swami and  like a God. Since God even don't discriminate why you are doing so?

Later in that song or through that song she said so many things, all were very true but they were the bitter truth prevalent in our society of that time.

प्रभु जी मेरे अवगुण चित ना धरो.. समदरसी है नाम तुम्हारो.. नाम की लाज करो प्रभु जी मेरे अवगुण चित ना धरो.. एक नदी एक नाला कहे, मेल हो नीर भरो.. गंगा मे मिल कर दोनो गंगा नाम पारो प्रभु जी मेरे अवगुण चित ना धरो.. कांटे और कलिया दोनो से, मधुबन रहे भरो.. माली एक सामान ही सीचे कर दे सबको हरो प्रभु जी मेरे अवगुण चित ना धरो... मदिरा पिए छोड़ गंगाजल.. व्याकुल मन हो गयो है पागल

मन मे रोग गारो हो गुरु जी मन मे रोग गारो सूर श्याम की कृपा बिना.. कोई जग मे ना सुधारो ना सुधारो ना सुधारो प्रभु जी मेरे अवगुण चित ना धरो प्रभु जी मेरे, अवगुण चित ना धरो... ना धरो, अवगुण चित ना धरो.. चित ना धरो...

Try to search wording of this song and if you get a correct one kindly post it here.
Also it's sad that we don't have photo of that singer on the other hand we have photos of Raja of Khetri and also of Swami Vivekananda ji.
But how did she, a dancing girl, but according to me a great soul look like?


But its a very sorry tale that we have pictures of Swami Vivekananda and Raja of Khetri, but dont have photo of that singer? few say her name was Maina Bai? 

then other lady i know and seen on silver screen, She was Meena Kumari who acted in films Pakeezah, Chitralekha etc.

She is from Jaipur royal palace or Zenana, Raja Ram Singh, who was said to have interested in Photography & patronized it. Due to him lot of photos of singer/dancers/ladies of his zennana are now available 

Man ki baat All India Radio

Radio was there in India, but it was not in our homes actually. However in evenings the tune of #hawamahal in the neighbour's house told everyone in our building that time is 8:15 PM. Usually that was the time when in our homes people started preparing the dinner or few had it on that time. It was good that people had dinner while listening to hawamahal in radio of neighbor's house. If neighbours were benovalent then the sound used to be high so that all their neighbour's can listen, otherwise only the tune was on high volume and immediately sound was lowered so that they can not listen the programme. That raised BP of neighbour out of jealousy.

We had lost radio long back since 1980s when Doordarshan came into our homes with National Telecast/Broadcast. We saw that program when Smt Indira Gandhi asked Capt Rakesh Sharma how India looks from above. He replied that without any hesitation it is सारे जहाँ  से अच्छा Sare Jahan Se acha. i think it was in 1982? then another program which will be immortal for me was a program from Bombay where Noorjehan came to India and she sang. The News Papers printed headlines as She Sang!! Noorjahan Sang in India.  that programm was IMMORTAL MELODIES

Bai Sa Ra Beera

Bhinna Shadja a doucmentary on Kishori Amonkar ji

Ustad Alladiya khan Saheb - THE Greatest Vocalist of Hindustani Art Music.

Man Kyoon Behka Re Behka Aadhi Raat Ko - Utsav | Rekha | Lata Mangeshkar...

Neelam Ke Nabh Chhayee Pukharaji Janki - Utsav | Rekha | Lata Mangeshkar

Koyelia Gaan Thama -- Begum Akhtar

Begum Akhtar as we know today was a shining star of our Hindustani Classical Indian Music. While Thinking about her life i feel it was a path full of thorns on which she had to walk all through her life.
Born in a family of traditional singers she was destined to become a singer.
In some LP records of past years it was written as Akhtari Bai Faizabadi. As per tradition in end of songs each singer had to announce his or her name. similarly Begum also announced "Akhtari Bai Faizabadi".
That indicates she hailed from Faizabad. This town is famous for many gems of Indian Classical music often known as Hindustani music. Most famous SuperStar of her times




VIDEO JUKEBOX

When she married to Abbasi saheb, a lawyer at Lucknow, she became Begum Akhtar from Akhtari Bai ji. But this life, seems to be of respected household, was full of restrictions. it is learnet that she as Begum Abbasi was forbidden from singing in public. how awkward was our society back then? (i think still in present times society is same) Man visit girls-women of their choice, even she is a dancer or tawaif but once she is married she had to follow all restrictions. Thus Begam Akhtari sahiba, who was born & brought up in singing atmosphere and she was well known as an singer par excellence suddenly could not sing anywhere in public-not in front of MEN in particular.

that's why i framed "a free bird put in a cage" appropriately. described her situation. She became ill, due to this suffocation.

All India Radio became one of the greatest patron for our classical artists of that time, in absence of kings-queens. Here too AIR Lucknow came to rescue of Begum Sahiba. She sang three songs-ghazals & dadra, to everyone's relief she was cured off her ailments. True artist inside her won the battle that she was fighting within for 5 years after marriage. 

Begum Sahiba as she can be addressed,

sang many songs in Bengali too. Imagine how difficult it might have been. She hailed from Faizabad in UP and in that area mostly poorvi boli dialect is used. Eastern Uttar Pradesh has little bit different dialect from Central Uttar Pradesh. She learned in Faizabad, must have visited Varanasi, Lucknow also, but in those times Calcutta was a big cultural hub. Most of famous Tawaifs of those times often dream of going to Calcutta to perform. thinking that if they get recognition in Calcutta then their dreams will come true.

Begum Akhtar also went to Calcutta, not only went but sang in Bengali too? What type of training she might of got and from whom? Who taught her to sing in Bengali? that time standard of teaching learning was of high.

In modern India people start fighting over language? Bengali will say bad about Hindi. Tamil area rise against Hindi? similarly now Punjabi and Karnataka areas have also started opposing Hindi? Begum Akhtar sang in Hindi, Urdu, Awadhi, Bengali also. But She has some PATIALA gharana connection too? if i am not wrong?

Every seasons had different style of singing & songs. in months of March, April, May
Basant, sawan, ashadh ect have different songs.
Begum Akhtar sang this famous song in Bengali- asking Koyal to stop singing as it pierce inside her heart. Pangs of longing & separation for lovers is portrayed through words & singing.

I term it as vachik abhinaya, where swar play important role. how to say particular swar, in what tone, thus tonal quality of voice was very important in singing. those times tawaif were expert in using tone or swar in portraying bhaav. that was not practicable by women in married household. 

As Shanti Hiranand, who was disciple of Begum Akhtar at Lucknow told man times, about difference in style of singing by tawaifs and other ladies. Tawaif being free birds could be naughty, while singing they used sensuous tones or words in many ways, also facial expression were added. Thus in mehfil singing they excelled. Bhaav Batana in swar abhinaya. But greatness is in learning or mastering this art. 

DADRA by Begum Akhtar: it is sung in the awadhi dialect, that we speak or listen in and around Lucknow, Kanpur, Sitapur, Unnao, Hardoi area. The lyrics are symbolic and indirectly tease the listener or the patron. Subtle nuances or erotic emotions are created through the suggestive lyrics and also through the voice modulation. Emotion through voice - it is hard to learn these, but in the their learning classes and through daily life experiences those dancing girls of bygone era learned all that ABHINAYA? Vachik Abhinaya as it is called. As in theatre the actor on stage delivers the dialogue but with the emotions, that's called the Vachik Abhinaya.

DADRA

Piya aiso jiya mein - Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam [Colourised]

We have been loving the black and white version of this song for decades. Now this color version has come up? Is it better than the earlier version?
the original version in Black and white, was superb in camera angles, editing. Total song picturisation had come out the best, as far as i am concerned. While listening tho the beats of the song, i can see that each frame moves along with each beat, taal of music. Have you experienced that? Since i am a dancer so my biased view is towards the dance? Don't you feel that whole of aspect involved dance movements of of the song. Editor of song sequnce has edited, added frames exactly in consonance of beat-taal of music, See again & try to see when frame changes, it's called a cut? count the cuts

Respcted GuruDutt saheb was himself a dancer? Yes as he had enrolled himself in Dance Academy established by Most respected Uday Shankar ji in Almora? In this song picturisation, lots of movements were having that training aspects? I think so.

Watch again, and experience the beats, and realize that at every cut there seemed to be an transition of beat of music?

 That era of black and white was superb. Present generation who is born in colors or colors around them cannot appreciate that black and white. But the Art of film making in Black and white and to depict each and every move so brilliantly along with emotions was of high standards. Creativity of camera man, director, screen play writer all came together thus they were able to create such magic for us.

See again both versions and compare which is the best?

Although one cannot deny the fact that Meena Kumari did superb acting? still there no match to her skills on screen. As if she was born to do films? A creative soul she was.
following is a tweet representing that anxiety or wait of nayika? 

हर आहट पे समझी वो आय गयो रे
पिया ऐसो जिया में समाय गयो रे कि मैं तन मन की सुध बुध गवाँ बैठी
film:Saheb bibi aur ghulam

Women awaits her Nayak
crow's cry indicates someone will be visiting house? #Rasikapriya ca. 1800 Edwin Binney 3rd Collection
The San Diego Museum of Art pic.twitter.com/MqgbCvzPO7

— g katyan misra (@kamlesm) July 24, 2019

Valentine is alien word. Prem-Bhakti was prevalent. Madhurya Bhakti. two bhaav-Nirgun & Saguna. Krishna Radha is purest form of Nirgun Bhakti? one is Gyan ashrayi other is Prem shrayi. But both culminate in Krishna.
even there is Sakhi bhakti(sampraday) aatma pines for Paramaatma pic.twitter.com/r8ViWLZgRJ

— g katyan misra (@kamlesm) February 14, 2019

jalwa zara dikha de ajmerwaale khwaaja

Qawwali by Shankar-Shambhu

EVM Machine

I got chance to work as a Returning Officer in a local body election. As per my experience I can say types of precautions & procedures adopted are such that no tampering can be done in EVM machines. Few days before election date machines were assembled at a large place. This place is out of reach of any unauthorized person, such is the security arrangement. I-cards are the only thing which can provide access to such areas. If our security personnel are strict then no one can enter this area.

Recently the elections in Uttar Pradesh has been completed and results were a debacle for many parties. Few are pointing fingers towards rigging of EVM Machines. For the last 40 years I had been hearing about polling booth CAPTURING by few unsocial elements which were backed by political parties. In every election in UP we used to hear about such incidences. New EVM is more security proof. Once the close button is pressed by the presiding officer EVM cannot register any vote. Thus possibility of making votes other than listed in the voters list or even by capturing booths is negligible. After pressing the button to vote there is a gap after which next vote can be made/pressed. In event of booth capturing there ought to be huge amount of patience on part of them to wait and press again and again the button to vote. I think They will not be in position to manipulate votes, since they will not have such patience. Unlike ballot papers they used to put seal marks on ballot papers rapidly without any break and put all ballot papers into box. That in-built time taking mechanism after casting of vote by pressing button in EVM machine will be enough to surpass the patience of looters.


At time of preparing voting machines EVM all election officials and all political parties are invited for a demonstration. At the time of checking machines also all political parties in fray are invited to see and check for themselves all machines.
We had to check hundreds of EVM. All Buttons, switches and sounds together with the working of display units were checked. After satisfying ourselves machines are brought to the desk for further preparations. Two engineering/Technical hands from the company for technical support were also there. In case of any fault in machine my staff used to call them to rectify the technical snag. 
EVM Machines were distributed/allotted to each Returning Officers as per the number of polling booths in their jurisdiction. After that each machine is tagged with identification numbers.
Each EVM and their boxes were tagged. whole lot of one returning officer was kept separately presumably under custody of RO. But high security provided by the Security personnel from administration kept on vigil. It is only due to all security personnel deputed on Election duty we were able to conduct elections peacefully. There is no doubt about it. I salute all the police forces, security forces who kept guard during election process. it was like 24X7 job for them and as well as for me.

Preparing EVM is a complex but simple process if done step by step. All the presiding and polling officers were given training many times to operate EVMs. Just before lining up of the machines for each Returning Officers, we were also asked to invite all the candidates and political parties to come and see or check EVM at the time of allotting to the Returning Officers. Candidates were requested to check for themselves for their own satisfaction. I had telephoned to many candidates at short notice as was given to me by the Director of election. Few came and few went away citing the delay and time taken in the process. Process of allotment of  EVM took whole one day. It was very tiring job for me. As all those EVMs were being allotted to me, thinking the seriousness i was not able to breath freely. 
Then each and every step there is method of putting identification and check points to safe guard the whole process. All those EVM machines allotted to my area were kept in boxes and keys were handed over to me. That time I cant tell how I was feeling?. Sound of thumping heart was so deafening to my ears. Holding those keys in my hands i was terribly shaking. All those big boxes were transported to another area from where these will have to be distributed to the poling parties.
Each EVM had already been checked and properly numbered. Each were affixed with the list of candidates in election and were properly locked. Two units usually form a set one is the main unit and other is the ballot unit. At the time of distribution EVM to poling parties i did not know as to which EVM unit will go to which party? Since at the time of distribution every poling party is given time to properly check the EVMs allotted to them and try to operate. In case of technical problem these EVMs are changed that time itself. After all checks done by each presiding officers we finalize the allotment of EVMs. 

At the start of Elections dot on time around 7 AM or any time which is fixed for that elections presiding officers were supposed to start preparing EVMs in advance. so that at the time of start of elections voters may start voting and they should not be kept waiting after that time. But before that the polling agents or candidates if present must check and satisfy themselves about the functioning of EVMs. They were requested to put their signatures and seal if so they desire. This process is taken up at every step since beginning i.e. from the preparation of EVMs and the time of affixing the numbers tag to each EVMs the serial numbers or any identification numbers can be listed by candidates and /or they can put their signature and seal. In poling booth also same procedure is adopted so that no doubt left among the candidates.

The most important thing is the mock poll. This has to be done compulsorily. It is a mandatory exercise each poling booth has to take it up. And there is no limit on number of votes or mock buttons are to be pressed. If candidates are 50 then? each can press button to cast mock vote 5 times that amounts to the 50X5 votes 250? In TV news channels few were airing that software are there to manipulate the polling after 100 votes.

 But in our Democracy beauty is that at each step proper transparency is maintained. Every chance is given to candidates to be satisfied over the election process so that it can be held in a free and fair manner. In each Voting machine a paper seal is affixed by presiding officer before locking it to start voting and at that time each candidate in election can put his signature on paper seal. Often polling agents in poling booth do on behalf of their candidate. After satisfactory MOCK POLL EVM machine is locked and properly sealed. MOCK POLL is done in front of every one so as to ensure that machine EVM is functioning properly. It happens in front of every one and done by each of the poling agent therefore no doubt is left on fairness of machines.
On the date of election news from many poling stations came about non functioning of EVMs. For that I had already allotted few spare EVMs to my Sector officer. two or three machines were kept in his vehicle so that he can immediately change these machines and election process can continue without any break. All this happens in front of polling agents/candidates and public thus chance of sabotage in nill.



As I observed that Many times technical problem was that of pressing button either by poling official or the voter without waiting for the proper moment. In the machine when a button is pressed by the officer then only vote can be made by pressing the buttons in the ballot unit. if the button is pressed before that moment it will give error. Thus with little patience every voter is directed to press the button at the proper moment.
After election time is over the tallying is done. Means the list of voters casted votes and the number of votes counted by the machine are tallied, if any discrepancy is found same is to be reported in appropriate paper. It is rare case that votes polled is more than the voters list.
Each step is so tuff that any kind of mistake can easily be caught. Then punishment is also harsh
On the previous night of election day i could not sleep properly. For hours I took round visiting each and every polling booth of my area that consisted of six wards. I went to see that every poling party has reached their poling station or not. Each had got their EVM machine unit with them or not.
It took few hours to take a full round of whole area of which I was Returning officer. In the morning of polling also i had taken a full round to see whether each polling party has started preparing their gadgets and space.  Is there any difficulty or not. Once polling started then onward continuously I was on move for whole day. some times to give EVMs machine to replace at poling stations, or sorting out any difficulty in other polling process etc.

After all the machines were collected at one place that was called strong room. I was asked to keep the key with me, it was like a heart attack to me, I started trembling. Thing was that in that room machines of two Returning officers were kept. I was asked to keep a key with me. I said no, you give another key to that second Returning Officer whose machines are kept in the same room with mine.
I dont know how that senior officer agreed and did not show any angry face to me. On the day of counting we both Returning officers ought to be present with the keys kept with us to open the strong room. However the security of strong room was not directly under me even though key was with me.
All the process of locking and putting seal on the lock of strong room was video graphed.
On that day when both two keys will be present then only door of strong room would be open. Thus i saved myself from owing the responsibility of protection of Machines of another Returning Officer. I shared that responsibility with that returning officer.
Whole area where many such strong rooms were erected was under strong security from all sides. No entry was allowed in that area without proper ID Card issued by authority.

On counting day all the appointed counting agent and polling agents were allowed inside and to those who had valid I-Cards singed by me. On each table where counting is being done counting agents of political parties were standing to keep record of all the happenings. The number of voters, number of votes polled in that EVM. If any discrepancy is noticed by counting or poling agents of candidates proper mechanism is there to register their complains.
I counted the postal ballets in front of all contesting candidates, made a table and gave to the counting desk for further actions. Step by step all counting process began and results were announced after signing by me on each result sheet containing number of votes cast in each polling booth. After that I had to sign a certificate of Election to the wining candidate.
Thus i think it is wrong to say that election through EVM is rigged or can be rigged.
I even think why not voting can be done through Internet? In this digital India why not use digital mechanisms /tools for elections?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_voting_in_India