Enthusiastic centenarians make kin flock to booths

Neha Saini/Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 19

The scorching heat couldn’t deter 100-year-old Avtar Singh Chopra, who came along with his family to cast his vote in Heir village on Sunday.

The centenarian motivated others, especially young voters, to cast their vote responsibly as he said voting was the true power of a citizen in a democracy.

A nephew of late Major-General Mohinder Singh Chopra, who was charged with establishing the joint checkpost at Wagah Attari border in 1947, was happy to be a part of the electoral process every single time. “It’s my duty,” he says.

Accompanied by his daughter Indu Arora, Avtar Singh expressed that though he disliked the kind of mudslinging and bickering in politics the country is being subjected too, voting is still a responsibility and duty of every citizen. “India has overcome many political and social turmoil, it has come out stronger than ever. It will continue to do so if its citizens vote and participate in decision making process,” he said.

Another such inspiring centenarian was Pishora Singh, 103, who had come to cast his vote along with three generations of his family — his son Surinder Singh Azad, his grandson Harminder Singh Azad and great grandson Tajinder Singh. Expressing happiness over the family’s active participation in the electoral process, Surinder Singh Azad said, “It feels good that as a tradition we pass it on to our younger generation the responsibility and duty to vote and be part of the change.”

While some participated in the elections as a part of performing their duty, Pritam Kaur, 100, of Chinna Bidhi Chand village in Taran Tarn, hoped that whoever comes to power will ensure pensions/income for senior citizens. Carried to the polling booth by a member of her family, Pritam Kaur stressed that one should definitely vote if one expect anything to be done for them by the government.

Meanwhile, several families preferred to go together to polling booths. Sumit Arora, a businessman said, “My entire family has come to vote. It is a holiday and we are having a relaxed time.”

Jagdishwati (97) also came along with her entire family, including son Ravi Kharbanda and daughter-in-law Madhu Kharbanda.

Manmohan Mehra, a banker, accompanied by his wife Madhubala Mehra, son Raghav Mehra (CA) and daughter-in-law Ghriti Mehra came together to a polling booth. Mehra said, “It is important to come and vote. It is our basic right.”