Sloganeering: Fading charm of Indian Elections
Having travelled in almost three major elections in bid to immerse and grasp the rhymes and rhythms of the people and land in the swaying times of elections. Though I either neither see much change from the old books written in pre-1947 era nor comprehend the fever with which politicians legitimise their elections or our own faith in the system. However, its the most complex democratic exercise across the globe and if one seeks to be a traveller it’s a periodic festival of its kind. During a recent discussion with friends, I was bemused by the class of few of the slogans in post 1947 politics.
I was just wondering on art with of Slogans their spiced up catchiness and the people who devised some of the most heady catchphrase which sometime captured the mood of the massed and sometimes when down with even a fizzle.The two which are personally addictic since long time are:
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- Teen Anna Pandrah Anna (3 annas −15 annas) – coined by Lohia on apathetic of then Prime Minister and Planning commission towards masses. It seems bland and boring; however, like Lohia it has depth and grief of nation. Seems to be true till now.
- Yeh Dekho Indira Ka Khel, Kha Gayi Shakkar, Pee Gayi Tel – one of the best one – On entertainer Indira Gandhi and distraught masses.
Before going forward I would like to apologies that most are captured from northern states, mostly because of my limited knowledge and also because of lack of command over languages.
The famous and provocative slogans: Impressive and demeaning depending where is your fence:
· Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Indira tera naam rahega and Indira Gandhi lao, desh bachaao – Congress Slogan. J. P. Narayan may have aptly answered it by ““Indira hatao, desh bachao” for the 1977 general elections.
· "Sabko Dekha Bari Bari, Abki Bari Atal Bihari" – BJP’s slogan for Atal
· Kalyan Singh kalyan karo, mandir ka nirman karo – people asking Kalyan Singh for Ram Mandir
· Three of the most innovative once form BSP “Tilak, taraju aur talwar; inko maaro joote chaar”, “Haathi nagin Ganesh Hai, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh hain”, and “Chad gundon ki chhati par, mohar laga do haathi par”
· BSP saying for Uttar Pradesh: “Patthar rakh lo chhati par, button dabao hathi par”, equally witted SP’s retort“Gunda chad gaya haathi par, goli maara chhati par”. Not many considered this "Desh ke sir ka Taj banega, UP awwal Rajya banega" – BJP and this "Sonia nahi ye andhi hai, dusri Indira Gandhi".
· "Maa, Maati, Manush” – TMC, Mamta banerjee
Short Stories:
· “Ek sherni, sau langoor, Chikmaglur, Chikmaglur.” - Devraj Urs, for Indira Gandhi’s by-election in 1978.
· “Hum saugandh Ram ki khate hain, mandir wahin banayenge.” - The BJP’s chant in 1989 which led it to a stupendous victory.
· “Jaat par na pat par, mohar lagegi haath par.” - P.V.Narasimha Rao coined this slogan for the 1996 elections.
· "Indira is India and India is Indira" by Congressmen Dev Kant Baruah during the state of emergency in the mid 70s.
· "Aam Aadmi Ko Kya Mila?" – Congress slogan against BJP
· Lal Salam - CPI
· “Jansangha ko vote do, Beedi pina chhor do, Beedi mein tambakhu hai, Congresswallah chore hai.” – Jan Sangh
· Jai Ho by Congress
· Kushal Neta, Nirnayak Sarkaar by BJP for Advani
· Jab Tak Rahega, Samose mein aloo, Tab tak Rahega, Bihar mein Laloo – for Laloo Prasad Yadav
· “Chalega Haathi Udegi dhool, na rahega punja na rahega phool.” – BSP
· “Vote hamara-Raj tumhara, Nahi chalega-nahi chalega” , “Jo zamin sarkari hai, who zamin hamari hai” , “Jiski jitni sankhya bhari, utni uski hissedari” - Kansi Ram - master of sloganeering
· "UP hui hamari hai, ab dilli ki bari hai; Bharat ki majboori hai, behen Mayawati zaroori hai" – BSP
· "Aam aadmi ke badhte kadam, har kadam par Bharat buland" – Congress
· "Vikas ka mehnatana mangne aaye hain" - Nitish Kumar
· "Aatank mein jeena hai ya aman-chain mein?” – BJP-JDU combine Bihar
Some banal lines or false promises:
These sank without a trace or should have: Some captured people’s imagination and failed to delivery other either didn’t delivery or the if they did, the beneficiaries failed to keep them.
· Congress - Amethi ka danka, beti Priyanka; Congress ka haath, aam aadmi ke saath; aam aadmi ke badte kadam, Har kadam par Bharat buland; Congress ko lana hai, desh ko bachana hai; Uthe Hajaron Haath, Sonia Ji Ke Saath
· Bahujan Samaj Party - UP hui hamari hai, ab dilli ki baari hai, BSP Ki Kya Pehchan, Neela Jhanda Haathi Nishan; slogan "Khula hathi lakh ka, band hathi sawa lakh ka"
· Samajwaadi Party - UP me hai dum, jurm hai yahan kam; Badli badli hawa chali, badla badla mausam, kayam rahe Uttar Pradesh, kayam rahe Mulayam; Bol Mulayam Halla Bol, Halla Bol'.
· Bharatiya Janata Party - Ram Lala Hum Aayenge, Mandir Vahin Banayenge; Yeh to kewal jhaanki hai, Kashi Mathura baaki hai; Varun nahi, yeh aandhi hai, doosra Sanjay Gandhi hai;
And the some crispy slogans:
· "Garabi Hatao" - Indira Gandhi's campaign in 1971
· "India Shining" – BJP’s Promod Mahajan miscalculations
· "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" – Lal Bahadur Shastri
· “Work more talk less” - Indira Gandhi, office in 1966.
· "Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai" – if that miscalculation this one was out of proportions by Jawaharlal Nehru
· "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan" - Atal Bihari Vajpayee
· "Sampoorna Kranti" – J. P. Narayanan
· 'Save Tamil Nadu' – Jayalalithaa
