And we are almost there....nearly a week to go for the General Elections 2015. Hopefully all will be quiet after that. All our lives seem to be revolving around the Election Day - 7th May 2015. My 7 year old has a spelling test on Friday, 8th May. A play date perhaps after school as promised. Groceries, bills to sort out over the weekend, classes, laundry, ironing etc . Life as usual?
While we have seen a nastiness, mud-slinging and debates during the election campaign what I personally have noticed is an increasing interest among our community members especially the ladies, in politics and its effect on our daily lives. From an outright dismissive, "I don't care about poiltics" I am beginning to receive messages like "I don't actually understand what politics is".
Willingness to find out - certainly better than not bothering at all.
On the ground, we have seen many volunteers tirelessly giving of their time to campaign for candidates. For a number of these volunteers, it was their first ever time participating in an election campaign. "When we watch the election debates on television and news reports on elections, the impression one gets is that elections are just about showing each other down and fighting for the vote bank. However once you actually knock on doors, help at the campaign offices you realise how much hard work, data analysis and careful planning goes into an Election," said a first time election volunteer to me.
Not long ago, I had privilege of hearing Baroness Verma speak at a community meeting with aspiring women entrepreneurs where she spoke of her journey into politics and said, "I got into politics because I was fed up of others telling me what my problems were. As women, we can change anything we want to - we just have to get involved." So true, we all thought! Why is it that a handful of people decide to tell us what our issues were and why are we not taking an active interest in politics? What stops us?
Yes the manifestos are useful and it is important to bring into sharp focus certain issues but each one of us face often different issues and have varying experiences with either the politicians being receptive or non receptive. Elections are the times when we make an assessment of how my issues have been addressed and what it means in the broader National spectrum.
A number of people confuse the role of the local Council with that of the MP. We don't know who our local candidates are. The literature that is pushed throw our letter box, most of us will admit to straight away binning it. When people come knocking on the door, we choose not to open doors. When it is Election Day, eventhough we have registered our vote, we choose not to Vote.
At a Hustings in Harrow recently, Lord Dholakia (Liberal Democrats) said, "irrespective of party, it is important to participate in politics" The British Indian community's positive contribution has been widely acknowledged widely. While we are proud of our legacy and how we have demonstrated our strength as individuals, businesses and as a community, there is lots more to do. I have heard Lord Popat say this repeatedly, "we need our young British Indians to take more interest in politics if we want to see a difference in politics". One of the key things that we fall short on is to make our voice heard politically! There are increasing number of retirement seats and with all the good will on part of each party's veterans, there is a lack of British Indian political aspirants.
We need more women politicians, activists, leaders but what we really need is all of us, each one of us to Vote on May 7th 2015. For each one of us to know what matters to us and why, we need to take the first step in the democratic process. My Vote Matters. It is my voice and I will make it count. How about you?
