Written by-Nawang Chhoetso

Himachal Pradesh will be casting its vote for the general election of the state assembly this month. I have very little and narrow knowledge regarding the working of election on the ground.
Whatever I know regarding it is what I learnt in school and books. We are taught that India is a democratic republic, which meant that people exercising their right to vote will choose their representatives. But it took me years to understand the depth of it. The right to vote is an extraordinary power granted by our constitution. This power was first exercised by eligible voters of India in the election to the first general assembly but it took few more years for people in Spiti to exercise this right. i.e. in the year 1956 in the elections to second general assembly.

This journey about arrival of democracy in Spiti is narrated by Professor Parmananda Sharma who was commissioned to conduct election for second general election, in his book “Men and mule on a mission of democracy” 1960.

I found out about this book for the first time when I was working on my article, The history of Spiti.Though I have not read this book thoroughly, it could provide us with valuable insight regarding the life and political awareness of people in Spiti at the time of the arrival of democracy in the region.

More than six decade has passed since this incident of arrival of democracy. People today are for sure more aware of their surroundings and politics. Though I have very narrow idea regarding the causes that the voters in Spiti cast their votes for.

Whatever it may be we must keep in our mind that awakened and participative citizenry are the drivers of good governance.