Before I start writing about the topic, let me thank all those brave people who have dared to read my first blog and gave me feedback to continue with the topic of politics. So here I am with another crap - "First detailed blog on politics." Before I start with actual topic, let me make some clarifications first.
Clarification
Content of ABC of SVNIT politics is purely based on my knowledge. It may be possible that things I have written in this blog may not completely true. There might be different perspective of the things/persons that I am going to portray here. I heartily apologize to all who have directly or indirectly been hurt by my blog.
Waring
Thinking of politics, makes me realize that most of my friends in college either political leaders or influential person of one or the other associations, all those friends please discontinue reading this blog for I am definitely sure that at one or the other place you are going to get hurt. I think now I can start it without any fear of losing my dear friends, hoping that they have already closed this tab.
I came from so called Gujju medium school. According to few of my brightest batch mates they considered it as one of the lowest class of people come from there, I don't know how, but somehow they did their best analysis before joining college. Well this is not the issue for time being so we will go to the main point. My point was, as I belonged to a school in which politics meant you should be popular among students either for acads or extracurricular activities. There was no politics game and nothing to do with numbers. I never knew what number game was. Only lesson I learnt in my school was, when I became class CR in 10th. To get more than 10 votes of girls I gave them my notes. And with help of their votes, I became CR first (and last) time in my life. Now don't think I was a CCC or something like that, I had to do that thing because my opponent was the guy who was consistently getting elected as CR for last 9 years. You should know how hard it to be elected as CR against such guy. But after becoming CR I came to realize that its the worst job I have got for myself and decided not to think about it in any further elections.
Lets come to the college life.
First day in F division, I met many interesting people like Nirmit Dave, Ashish Tanti, Gaurang Gupta, Jaykishan Mandani Jacky, Shreyas Patel, Shreyans Baid, Suketu D Wala, Pratik Vakil etc. I did not meet few people in person in first week like Abhishek Singh, Vibhu Gangal, Haary Dhawan, Om Brijesh. Well half of the people in this list had never done anything in field of politics, but they share part of the story to make me reach to the place where I was in final year. On the bases of first few weeks’ observation I found strong political influence and leadership quality in few of these guys. But except two of them, all made me realize that I overestimated them. They were just bunch of crap. :D
As I told you earlier in the beginning I was not interested in politics because of the experience in school. But after one month I found that people either count me as gujju or localite. So I was thinking to do something that would make me famous in class. And then I heard about the college elections. Though I didn’t know anything about college politics, somehow I was feeling that I was not going to win it. But I was sure that it will make me famous in class. So I made my mind to stand for CR. But there was a problem. There was another localite, Gaurang who was also thinking about standing for CR. I asked him if he was going for it then I wouldn’t fill the form. Because in class of 75 if we have only 13 localites, then there was no point of having two candidates from one group. But on last day of form submission, he said, ” if you want to go for it then fill the form I was just kidding.” And I took the CR form.
On the same day in parking lot I heard someone talking in Gujarati. I went to that guy. He gave me his introduction, "Hi. My name is Dwarkesh Panchal. I am standing for CR in division E" The way he presented himself made me think that he might be good fellow and would be good to get tips for some votes. And thank god he didn't give any tips(which I later realized), and simply took me to final year local senior Chirag Vankawala. We called that guy "Vanka Sir". That day the guy met us like he was a leading CS candidate of college. At that time I didn’t knew about anything about election post and CS, SS, MS funda, so I dint take any of his talks seriously, only thing I was concerned about was how to get votes. And at the end I came to know that most probably I was not going to get any vote other than localites. But there were some interesting people I met at that evening like great Vicky Gandhi, Mihir Shah, Varun Rajani.
At that time more than 450 localites were there in college, but they were not united. Three names I gave just now were going to be key members to make those localites under one roof. I can say that these three people were the base of Localite Association that was going to form later in that year. We will be discussing that part later. At the end of the meeting, Vicky asked us to come to the college gate that evening.
As Vicky was our senior and he called us to gate, I was on time that day. But other people were late. Vicky told me that its good to see at least one person on time. Then he discussed some stuff related to college life (not about politics at all). After some time one guy came and gave his introduction. That guy was none another than "Safed Patel" or "Dhaval Patel" or "Gurubhai" His dynamic entry is still there in my mind, like we met yesterday only. Lets forget about entry and go to the line first came out of his mouth. "Hi. I am Dhaval Patel. I am standing for CR election in Division C." After giving "Kamini" smile Vicky directly ask him how many votes do you have? Dhaval saw calculations and said I am geting more than 35 votes. Vicky asked him, “I heard there is another localite Mihir has also nominated for CR from your class, then what is the meaning of two candidates from one class?” Dhaval told him, “I don't know about Mihir but I am definitely going to win.” Vicky did not say anything to Dhaval, and it took a year to understand why dint he say anything to Dhaval. (I will mention it later)
After short discussion our busy guy Dhaval went back to his work(I never knew why he was so busy till the final year). As soon as Dhaval left, Mihir came with a notebook. Vicky asked him about his vote statistics, Mihir was one step ahead of Dhaval he showed list of around 35+ people sign and said that these all people are going to vote for me and I am definitely going to win. Vicky got the point why there were two candidates from same class. Then Vicky came to me and asked to show him how many votes I was going to get. I simply told him there are 13 people in my class and I am not sure about even 13 votes. Vicky gave me smile and said good. He told me,” I don't know how many of you going to win, but one thing I am sure that you will know what college politics is.” Then he asked us to meet day before elections. He advised me to do campaigning myself.
For next one week I campaigned as much as I could. But one thing that most of the people told me that I cannot give you surety saying, ”If our senior asked us to vote someone then we will have to vote that person.” Another side in absence of local association, few localites who think they are superior because of their KV culture (or CBSE board) were not willing to vote for me. Some how I managed to confirm 11 localites vote on my side. There were two interesting offers I got that week. One from Jacky and one from Om. They said that every person have to give two votes. We can make a deal. If you give one vote of your group to my side I will do the same. Though deal was attractive but I can sense bluff in their speech, so I didn't take them seriously.
Day before election as Vicky asked us to meet him, we all met in parking lot of CRC. That day Vicky came with Hardik Patel, Hardik presented himself as biggest leader of SVNIT. First of all Vicky asked numbers of votes we had confirmed till that day. Mihir and Dhaval were confident about their 35+ votes. Vicky tried to convince one of them to step back so that another could get chance to win, but they both were rigid, and declined. So Vicky changed topic and started discussion of E Division situation. Varun and Dawarkesh DP explained their point of view. To confirm their stats Vicky called a guy who was gonna be milestone in near future, Shibli Khan. Shibli came there with Abhishek Upadhyay another future leader from NESA. They checked the votes of E division and said that Varun have better chances of winning. So Vicky asked DP to step back and to campaign for Varun. DP accepted it. Then Vicky asked me about my class situation. I showed him stats. And told him offer I got from Jacky and Om. Vicky laughed and asked me what you have said them. I told him, ”I didn’t find them trustworthy, but like them I can also bluff to co operate with them.” Vicky agreed with my thought. “Just tell both of them that I am ready for your offer.” I asked as to whom should I give the second vote, he said to divide it in all candidates so that it won't create problem. He said, “one thing is sure and that is you are not going to win.” I said I knew that from beginning. Then he asked us to meet him at Dairy Corner that night. (At that time we didn not know that the particular joint was going to be our lucky spot for next 2 years)
When we met at Dairy corner Vanka sir gave us his anti GBSA/GSA speech. It was quite impressive speech. Then he told us what will happen once we get elected. He explained us everything. At the end he gave us name of GS candidate for whom we have to vote. And then he went to college because he had some serious issues to handle. With him all seniors left the place. Mihir and Varun were there with me. That morning Varun met a local guy Viral (I am not sure about name, its one of the names that I am unable to recall. Varun if you are reading then comment that guy’s name so I can edit the post) That guy was also standing as GS candidate. According to that guy, Vanka sir was selfish, he betrayed Viral for the post of CS and Viral need vote for GS. Varun told me he is local and at the end, for CR voting we are following what Vanka told us, then why can't we vote for Viral as GS. As a proud local Mihir ready to go with Varun advice without thinking about any consequences. He said I also have met Viral, I like that guy. We will vote for him. I also agreed with them, because I didn’t know GS candidate Choka as well as Viral. So for me Viral as local was surly gonna be helpful. After than we left that place.
Next morning we reached college early. I made list of the localites to make sure that they don't miss to vote. Both Jacky and Om confirmed with me whether I am going to vote for them or not. I told them don't worry I have not changed my mind, I am with you. And voting started one by one people start voting. I divides 10 local votes in 5 candidates as Vicky told me. I lost 11th vote of Suketu D Wala who came college at 9am on that day and left at 10am because voting time was 11 to 12 am. Though one vote of Suketu wouldn’t make any difference, but point was on day of election don't let a single vote leave you. Once voting was completed, vote calculation started and we started getting votes having names like Vishnu + Om, Vishnu + Jacky, Om + Jacky. That gave me relief that I was not the only "Kamina" there. We all were confident about Abhishek Singh's victory, but who will be second CR was creating suspense. Harry and Om were in "Race Condition", Om would surly win if 2 votes were not discarded due to some incorrect voting. That was another lesson I learnt, to make sure people don't waste vote because of incorrect sign. At last we got the result. Abhishek Singh won with 29(not sure about numbers) votes and Harry with 21 votes. Om prakash got 20 votes. I got 9 votes and Jacky also got 9 votes. I came out of the CRC and was waiting for other local candidates. One by one they came out defeated. Mihir 9votes, Varun 15votes, Dhaval 9votes, Mustufa 3votes.
Vicky came to us and said, “Don’t worry yaar. Its a game. You are still new. It is not that easy. But remember if you do not be together this is not gonna change.” We knew he was right. We discussed about how hostel people cheated or used tricks to defeat us. (Well for me I was pretty much sure about results, but it feels good when you bluff. because others were also doing same) At the end we decided to make our asso and to reach the level where people will value us and will vote for us. That was the first milestone for Localite Association.
I think this is more than enough for me to learn what SVNIT politics was. If I get chance to post another blog I will surly write about the story how localite asso formed and the entry of few of great leaders in association.
Thanks for your patience.
Thanks Pratik Vakil for editing my blog.
