Learning from the American presidential elections...

A lot of people around are following the American presidential elections. And even if you don't intend to, the amount of coverage that it gets, you end up catching bits and pieces anyway.
It's all over the place. On the web it is understandable, as most of the content that we follow is American. But on the Indian TV? The reason, they'd say, is US being the most influential nation on the planet, you need to know what's happening at the power-station. But I doubt that.
'Impacts your life, hence you should know' was never a good enough reason. Most of us Indians (read urban middle-class) are not much interested in our own general elections when they happen. It definitely affects us more.
So why are we listening to Palin trying to explain the role she's going to play in the administration, if McCain got elected?
The answer lies in understanding the way American presidential election gets staged.
It is nothing less than a great drama - replete with impressive actors with impressive oratory skills, great settings, one-on-one debates, showcasing of emotions and family values, catchy slogans, personal stories...
Economy, internal issues, foreign policy etc are all good.
But at the end of the day it is the entertainment quotient that will get you public involvement.
Sad, but true.

So what is the lesson for us, here in India?
'It affects you and hence you should...' or 'It's your duty' hasn't managed to get the middle class involved in the elections and vote. (There is a campaign by Tata tea currently on air, on the same plank)
How about a reality show? Get all the ministerial candidates from the major parties on a show. Let them speak, fight, crib, cry... and get the audience - the whole electorate in this case, to vote thru sms.
And for all you know, the very same people who can't take out time now, will pay, vote and feel rewarded by the experience.

Up Next....

Puneet just introduced me to Italo Calvino. I read a quote of Italo: 'Everything can change, but not the language that we carry inside us, like a world more exclusive and final than one's mother's womb...'
Sounds interesting. I should read him.

Rushdie says about Italo - 'Reading Calvino, you're constantly assailed by the notion that he is writing down what you have always known, except that you've never thought of it before.' ...
That is something people say about Rushdie.

I'm starting with Six Memos for the Next Millennium. Hope I find it.