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Varanasi or Banaras – truly marvelous experiences to campaign for life

All started with a Phone call from state team “Please join Arvind Kerjewal at Varanasi to fight election” that now in-turned was to find a sponsor for the same, since all resources was already over by the end of election, Email to couple for friends led to immediate reply from Mr. Micheal Dsouza an NRI supporter for AAP who promised 1 lakh, now the responsibility became more intense. How can I go leaving my business was the first thing, without much thinking on it, it was how to get the train ticket, the only choice left was go to the railway station by 4:00 am try for tatkal seat, Team was set the last minute, 8 members said they are willing to come to Varanasi which will start on 30^th April, next early morning  I went to Railway station at 4:30 am to find Mr. Alex already there sitting on the Q for tickets, this was the hope that team is having stronger members which will make a differences, after sitting on the floor like a beggar at station for more than 5 hrs in the Q, ticket counter was opened, finally we got the Delhi ticket in hand for all 8 of us, it was like passing a exam, ( never thought that getting railway ticket was so difficult )

Our team was very Diversified  which had D. Alex Dsouza, Krishan Kumar from Sullia,Ahmed Kabeer from kattepala, Ashok ,Abdul Samad from puttur, Israel Bangera from Suratkal, Randel Rohan Dsouza and  Myself, all from different walk of life, different area around DK  , we all knew each other only from election time and now we are army going to fight out election campaign, but the goal was already set and the direction to fight out was already in the heart of all , the journey started out with 3 days and 2 night in the dust and heat of the north India finally reached Delhi on 2^nd May afternoon , Now how to go to Varanasi was the big Question, only choice left was take unreserved class and reach next day , getting the ticket was very simple , but the hell was waiting for us, The compartment was just packed with people  there was no room to get in, by them Mr. Alex and couple of them already inside the train started calling, we just threw the luggage through the window and train started moving without much thinking we were inside the train fight through the people standing ,

hoping that all 8 of us were inside the train, the hell of  journey was just waiting for us, people all around, over which a canteen-wala trying to sell his product people where sitting, standing all over the place, I never knew in India this was the way people traveled, it was 14 hrs of continuous standing and trying to sit in smallest available place, fights among people for seats, people pushing each other trying to go the toilet, made me think Why people are made to suffer like this, is because of our mean politician and govt. Why can’t we have more trains? Why is railway dept so ill maintained, getting ticket was like bonus, many Question with one answer, this why you are going Varanasi …..to bring in a change……………...by what means, how, was still not known.

 The trained reached around next morning since the hotel was already booked, we went took some rest and took shower to find water flowing out the body dark blackish colour which was due to the dust collected, within afternoon we were at the party office, got ourselves registered where we were around 250-260 volunteers in serial no. who had been working before us, we were asked to go to local office of condiment area which was almost close to place where we stayed,

by 3:00 we had already collected material and started our campaign, more than 2000 caps were distributed along with pamphlets by 7:00 pm , this was not well taken by BJP team which complained to Election officer who came in search of us, and told we will be arrested because we are carrying campaign material in hand, with a heated argument he had no choice but let us go and we ended the campaign for that day. The night was still heart breaking because of the phone from Mangalore of the accidental death of our Ashiba Employees who had worked with us more than 20 yrs Mr. Kareem who died at around 9pm in a road accident, Prayed that his soul rest in peace.  

From next day we fixed ourselves a circle which was the heart of Banras, the place where Kashi Vishwanth Temple was situated and where most of the locals and tourist passed, there was no looking back from then we made ourselves a team of 4 each standing at 2 different point giving away more than 6-8 thousand caps everyday along with pamphlets and sticking more than 1500 sticker per day on Cycle rickshaws, first couple of days people were hesitant to take caps and wear them,  but as days went along demand was started building and people voluntary taking caps from our hand was surprising , many came and appreciated our work we build many friends there who also helped us ,

sometime when BJP goons came and started shouting us the locals came and gave them left and right which was heart touching , they told us that no single local will ever shout at outsider in Varanasi, it was the outsider who used to do that and we found that was true.

The first 6 days we campaigned people were silently watching us, they came and showed support they was kind of fear , Aam Aadmi fear but we over heard some statements while we campaigned were “ these are good guys” one person said “ look at their hard work, BJP walas come and shout slogan and go these guys are working really hard” One old gentle man said“ Kashi Vishwanth is always with good people you will win”  On lady came and asked “ what is that josh you have to come all the way to campaign here for” ,

 One day when we had to book our Tatkal ticket to come back, and again same Standing in the line from 5 am till 10 am in the hot Sun, which left me drained out and I went and slept off the whole morning, that evening and next day more than 10 people came and asked me why I did not come in the morning for campaigning, leaving me almost stun as how they have noticed us work, This kept our sprits high, The stunning was the Arati for river Ganga which they do it everyday where we had a very closeup view for the same

Our work seen on the last day of our departure when almost full city was wearing White topi’s during Arvind’s Road Show and none were paid volunteers ,

People just over crowed the road it was sight to be watched , there was satisfaction in our hearts as we left Varanasi that we have achieved something.

 We as group were able to meet Arvind Kerjwal the last Day where he came to refresh in the place we stayed during his road show. By the end of the camapin more than 10,000 volunteers had joined in , thus making us the top few who started when only 250 were there……. With satisfying venture we had to again come back the same Old INDIAN Railways which delayed our journey by another 8 hrs with no water in the toilets or to drink, having popcorn as breakfast ……

Only GOD can help INDIA

 BJP looking from top the building as crowd on the streets