Question

When was first election held in India ? What was the condition of India at that time ? What were the difficulties against Election Commission ? How were they solved ?

Hint:

The first election was called "the biggest gamble in history" by one observer. Highlighting the innovative use of symbols for an illiterate electorate is a key point to score well on this topic. It showcases the adaptive nature of Indian democracy.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question addresses the monumental task of conducting India's first general election, a foundational event in its democratic history. It requires an understanding of the context, the massive challenges faced, and the innovative solutions devised.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
When was the first election held?
India's first general election was held over a period of four months, from October 1951 to February 1952. This was the first major test of democracy in a poor and newly independent country.
What was the condition of India at that time?
The condition of India was extremely challenging:


It was a newly independent nation still dealing with the trauma of Partition.

The country was vast and populous, with a huge electorate of about 17 crore people.

It was a poor country with a very low level of literacy—about 85\% of the electorate was illiterate.

There was no prior experience of conducting elections on such a massive scale based on universal adult franchise.

What were the difficulties against the Election Commission?
The Election Commission of India, set up in 1950, faced unprecedented difficulties:


Delimitation: Drawing the boundaries of 489 Lok Sabha constituencies and over 3,200 state assembly seats was a huge task.

Preparing Electoral Rolls: Preparing a voter list for 17 crore eligible voters was a massive administrative challenge. A major problem arose when nearly 40 lakh women registered themselves as "wife of..." or "daughter of..." and had to be re-registered under their own names.

Illiteracy: How to enable an overwhelmingly illiterate population to vote was a major hurdle.

Logistics: Training over 3 lakh officers and polling staff and arranging for ballot boxes and polling booths across the length and breadth of the country was a logistical nightmare.

How were they solved?
The Election Commission under Sukumar Sen devised innovative solutions:


Party Symbols: To overcome illiteracy, each candidate/party was assigned a visual symbol (e.g., a pair of bullocks for Congress, a lamp for Jan Sangh). Separate ballot boxes, each with the candidate's symbol, were placed inside the polling booth, and voters simply had to drop their ballot paper into the box of their chosen candidate.

Massive Voter Education: The EC conducted a massive campaign using radio, films, and other media to educate voters about the process and importance of voting.

Administrative Rigour: The EC undertook a meticulous, large-scale exercise to prepare and revise the electoral rolls and train the required administrative machinery to ensure a free and fair election.

Step 3: Final Answer:
India's first general election was held from 1951-52 in conditions of poverty and mass illiteracy. The Election Commission faced huge difficulties like preparing voter lists and enabling illiterate voters to participate. These were solved through innovative methods like the use of party symbols and a massive voter education drive, successfully establishing India as a democracy.