Exploring the Impact of Election Diaries 2024 on Indian Democracy

Documentary Insights into Indian Elections

In 2007, the documentary series Why Democracy? took a global tour to explore the concept of governance by the populace. Directed by filmmaker and academic Lalit Vachani, the Indian segment titled In Search of Gandhi has now evolved into a new project, Election Diaries 2024. This series of documentaries delves into the Lok Sabha elections that secured a third term for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Narendra Modi's leadership.

Election Diaries 2024 revisits one of the most contentious and pivotal elections in recent history. While the results are already known, the documentaries aim to analyze the BJP's failure to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha, necessitating the formation of a coalition government.

Themes such as rising majoritarianism, blatant Islamophobia, and the BJP's intentions to amend the Constitution permeate narratives from states like Kerala, Bengal, Karnataka, and Meghalaya. The nine directors involved capture the vibrant rallies, speeches, and the critical issues that are often overlooked.

Vachani and Srirupa Roy are among the producers, with Ridhima Mehra and Tulika Srivastava serving as executive producers. This initiative is supported by the Centre for Modern Indian Studies at the University of Gottingen in Germany. Six of the nine documentaries are being showcased as a collective at the International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala, taking place from August 22 to 27 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Additionally, Sangama, a documentary featured in the non-competitive Focus section, highlights the ongoing struggle against Hindutva and unjust policies.

The six-film package includes Vachani’s The Battle Royale, which chronicles the re-election campaign of Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra in Krishnanagar, Bengal. The film follows Moitra, who faces significant challenges, including a suspension from Parliament and intense online trolling regarding her personal life.

The Battle Royale provides a compelling look at the dynamics of modern electoral battles. While Moitra seeks to connect with the Trinamool's traditional supporters, a dedicated team of young volunteers meticulously tracks data and social media trends.

Moitra, energetic yet visibly strained, embodies the anxiety felt by Opposition leaders nationwide as they strive to counter the BJP's momentum. Many voter concerns raised in the film resonate beyond the election itself.

Sunanda Bhat’s Sangama (Coming Together) presents the coalition of citizens’ groups and progressive movements known as Eddelu Karnataka, which aims to challenge Hindutva and mobilize secular voters. Despite the seemingly unstoppable advance of Hindutva, the Eddelu volunteers demonstrate that grassroots campaigning and the debunking of false narratives can yield results.

These activists shine a light on long-standing issues such as underdevelopment, caste discrimination, and communal tensions. Their mission extends beyond the election, as one organizer emphasizes the importance of fostering an engaged citizenry.

Bhat’s observational film captures diverse voices and faces of the populace, including a touching moment of a mother bathing her infant and another woman attending a Congress rally out of admiration for Priyanka Gandhi.

While the rise of Hindutva poses a significant threat, the shortcomings of the Congress party are also scrutinized. A volunteer humorously notes that although the BJP aimed for '400 paar' (over 400 seats), they ultimately lost 28 percent of their share to GST.

Another perspective on Hindutva-influenced nationalism is presented in Crescent in the Saffron Sky, where Alishan Jafri and Omair Farooq follow Asaduddin Owaisi, leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. The film explores Owaisi's challenge of representing Muslim interests while countering the BJP's attempts to label him as a proponent of identity politics.

Owaisi argues that electoral empowerment is crucial for Muslims to be acknowledged, especially in a climate of hostility. Students at Hyderabad Central University engage in discussions about Owaisi's statements, questioning how he can be labeled communal amidst the rise of Hindutva and the silence of secular parties on Muslim issues.

Amit Mahtani’s Inside Outside focuses on the electoral contest between the National People’s Party and the Voice of People’s Party, addressing tribal empowerment and the Citizenship Amendment Act. In The Miniscule Minority, Avijit Mukul Kishore examines the lack of queer rights as a campaign topic.

State of Hope, directed by Anjali Monteiro and KP Jayasanker, follows TM Thomas Isaac's campaign as a Left Democratic Front candidate in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, highlighting the state's unique social reform history.

Greeshma Kuthar and Manju Priya K’s Our Symbol Is? investigates the political exploitation of cultural identity, particularly Tamil identity, which, while serving as a defense against Hindutva, often fails to support the very people it aims to uplift. The film features folk artists who share their experiences of waiting for hours at election events and facing delayed payments, illustrating the stark contrast between political rhetoric and reality.

Among the two documentaries from Election Diaries 2024 not featured at the IDSFFK, Prateek Shekhar’s Ruke Na Jo follows a CPI (ML) candidate's unsuccessful campaign in Bihar, while Pankaj Rishi Kumar’s Gola Dreams depicts a local journalist confronting aggressive messaging in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district.

Reflecting on the Lok Sabha election, the films convey lessons relevant to today. They assert that the power of the people played a role in preventing a complete BJP victory and curtailing the party's overt anti-Muslim campaigns. However, the BJP-led government's ongoing efforts to undermine democratic institutions and the legitimacy of Opposition leaders suggest that the hope highlighted in Election Diaries 2024 may already be fading.

Through Sangama, The Battle Royale, and to a lesser extent, Crescent in the Saffron Sky and Our Symbol Is?, the documentaries reveal entrenched divisions and emerging opportunities. A volunteer from Eddelu Karnataka aptly summarizes the challenges of reclaiming Constitutional values.

The BJP's defeat in Karnataka during the 2023 Assembly elections, along with its struggle to dominate the Lok Sabha in 2024, signals a 'quiet and introspective' resistance that requires ongoing vigilance, according to the volunteer.

The intricate dance of democracy is vividly portrayed in Election Diaries 2024, despite its varied quality.