Elections in the country, state, municipal or societies have the multicultural effect of a vibrant environment. It activates all the parties, groups and the public with a new lease of life for a limited time. New plans, promises and free bees are prevalent to the best and worst levels. Majority of these are fair and many fake/ false as well. Unfortunately in the mainstream of the country illiteracy is the main drawback; in states divided by religion, caste and other interests dominates. In local bodies petty issues take the forefront and national interest is the last priority in these elections. In societies petty egoism, interests to continue, some greed and patronising the group culture to dominate as long as they can.
Many interesting stories are popular but the story of Wolf and Lamb is popularly prevalent in all age groups, more than 60 years (since my childhood), till date. The story narrates the universal fact of election similar amongst human and animals – A lamb was drinking water from a stream in the forest, mother standing behind him. Meanwhile a wolf appears and the mother–son duo shivered for a certain death! The wolf come closer and said to the lamb, “Fully quench your thirst, I will not harm and will also protect you; come to my cave if hungry I will give you something to eat.” The three went to different directions after drinking water. Resuming his senses the lamb asked his mother innocently, “The same Wolf ate my elder brother last year while we were waiting and he was drinking water. He accused brother for making the water dirty, and brother politely replied, ‘Sir you are upstream so water is coming from you to me?’ Wolf reacted, ‘It may be some of your ancestors’ and killed the brother. Why this change of heart?” Mother smiled and replied, “In a few weeks there is election in the forest that is the sole reason for this change.”
The Board of Management of The Forest Society is exceptional in this regard and declared election for 2023–24, as per proper schedule Bye Laws, for 18 June. Pramod Mehra and Shyam Kanudia were the Election Officers. Very few residents come forward to serve in the Management Committee; this year also only nine residents filed the nominations against ten vacancies. So there was no election.
MC members elected following for different posts, in their first meeting of the tenure as future office bearers. President: J.P. Shukla; Vice President: Shiv Bhargava; Treasurer: Surendar Pal Sehgal; Secretary: KK Gupta; Asstt. Secretary: Sanjay Sharma It is a very healthy tradition that the previous office bearers offered opportunity to serve the society with their Innovative ideas for betterment of society where as they are also Management Committee members but to guide present office bearers with their past experience.
Samvada wish them a very productive, successful and result-oriented year!
by Kunwar S Vishal (201 Ridgewood, the Forest; 9818690006)
