India's massive general election

On May 16th, 2009, the Election Commission of India announced the results of its recent month-long India-wide election for their lower house of Parliament - the largest democratic election in the world. An estimated 714 million voters (from a population of 1.2 billion) were eligible to cast their vote in one of five separate phases at over 800,000 polling stations, starting on April 16th. Logistically difficult, massive in scale, and opposed by various rebel groups, separatists and protestors, the elections still managed to be held with minimal disruption, with an average voter turnout of greater than 56%. The big winner was the the Indian National Congress party, which will form the new government under the incumbent prime minister Manmohan Singh. As with any photo story from India, it is impossible to capture every aspect in just a handful of pictures - collected here are only some of the scenes that played out across the nation over the last month. (40 photos total)

A woman shows her ink-marked finger after casting her vote at a polling station in Sonapur, about 50 km (31 miles) from Guwahati, India on April 23, 2009. Millions of Indians voted in this, the second stage of a month-long general election. (REUTERS/Utpal Baruah)

People look on from a rooftop as Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi, unseen, addresses an election rally in Ghaziabad, India, Thursday, April 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi) #

A child looks on as Bahujan Samaj Party supporters listen to party president Mayawati at an election rally in Allahabad, India, Monday, April 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) #

Fans of Indian movie star-turned-politician Chiranjeevi wave the actor's Praja Rajyam Party flags and listen to him speak during an election campaign in Vijayawada, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Thursday, April 16, 2009. Chiranjeevi, the beloved hero of 149 adventure-romance films, has quickly become a political force since leaving Tollywood, the Telugu-language film industry that he ruled for three decades, to found his own party and contest elections in the key state of Andhra Pradesh. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) #

A voter walks towards a polling station to cast her ballot in Bapally, 110 km (68 miles) west of the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, April 16, 2009. With Maoist insurgents stepping up attacks, tens of millions of Indians began voting in a month-long general election. (REUTERS/Krishnendu Halder) #

A Hindu holy man, center, prepares to cast his vote in Ayodhya, India, Thursday, April 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan) #

A supporter of the Nationalist Congress Party shows his head shaved in the shape of the party symbol, a clock during a rally addressed by Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, unseen, in Mumbai, India, Sunday, April 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Gautam Singh) #

Communist Party of India (Marxist) party supporters hold party umbrellas with the sickle and hammer during an election rally in Agartala on April 21, 2009. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Muslim man shows his ink-marked finger after casting his ballot at a polling station in Tiamari village, about 280 km (174 miles) west from Guwahati, India on April 23, 2009. (REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri) #

A man casts his vote at a polling centre during the fourth phase of India's general elections in Kadat Village near Abu Road in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan May 7, 2009. (REUTERS/Arko Datta) #

A voter shows her ink-marked finger after casting her ballot at a polling station at Bapally, west of Hyderabad, India on April 16, 2009. (REUTERS/Krishnendu Halder) #

Polling officers check Electronic Voting Machines at a distribution centre in the southern Indian city of Chennai May 12, 2009. (REUTERS/Babu) #

An Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier stands guard outside a polling station in Srinagar on May 7, 2009. Kashmir voted under tight security amid a crippling strike by separatists and fresh boycott calls from hardline rebels. (TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Portraits depicting Indian movie star-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, left and right, are seen painted alongside former Andhra Pradesh state chief minister late N.T. Rama Rao, center, on a cycle rickshaw during an election campaign in Vijayawada, India on Thursday, April 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) #

Women look on as they queue to cast their vote at a polling station on April 23, 2009 in the Muslim dominated town of Mukalmua, near Guwahati, India. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) #

A voter shows her in-marked thumb after casting her ballot at Bhaderwah, about 200 km (124 miles) north of Jammu, during the second phase of the country's general election April 23, 2009. (REUTERS/Amit Gupta) #

A polling official marks the index finger of a voter with indelible ink before casting her vote inside a polling booth in Rae Bareli, India, Thursday, April 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) #

[photo removed] #

Women peer out from their veils as they stand in a queue to their votes at Jigna village in Rae Bareli, the constituency where Congress party President Sonia Gandhi is standing for re-election, India, Thursday, April 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) #

A voter arrives to cast his ballot at a polling station in Thiksey, in Indian-administered Kashmir on May 13, 2009. (REUTERS/Amit Gupta) #

Poll officials inspect an electronic voting machine at a distribution centre in Mumbai April 29, 2009. (REUTERS/Arko Datta) #

A woman shows her ink-stained finger outside a polling center at Nangrin village in Shillong parliamentary constituency in India's north eastern Meghalaya state,Thursday, April 16, 2009. (AP Photo/ Anupam Nath) #

Polling officers carry Electronic Voting Machines to a polling station in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh May 12, 2009. (REUTERS/Anil Dayal) #

Polling officers check Electronic Voting Machines at a distribution centre in the central Indian city of Bhopal April 22, 2009. (REUTERS/Raj Patidar) #

A woman shows her marked finger after casting her vote at a polling station, in Jamuva Bazar, near Varanasi, India, Thursday, April 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) #

An election official takes rest next to a voting booth at a polling centre near Karjat, around 100 km (62 miles) east of Mumbai, April 22, 2009. (REUTERS/Arko Datta) #

Ladakhi women queue outside a polling station as they wait to cast their vote in a village of Ladakh in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir on on May 13, 2009, in the last phase of the general elections. (MANPREET ROMANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

A man smokes after casting his vote outside a polling station in Varanasi in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh April 16, 2009. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi) #

Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan (center), son Abhishek Bachchan (right), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (2nd from left) and Jaya Bachchan display their ink-stained fingers after casting votes at a polling center in Mumbai April 30, 2009. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

Voters cross the Chenab valley on a cable car to cast their ballot in Doda, about 175 km (109 miles) north of Jammu, during the second phase of the country's general election April 23, 2009. (REUTERS/Amit Gupta) #

A monk, who is also a voter, drags a polling agent outside a polling station in Thiksey, 20 km (12 miles) east of Leh, May 13, 2009. The voters claimed that the polling agent was involved in false voting. (REUTERS/Amit Gupta) #

A man displays the indelible ink mark on his index finger after casting his vote, outside a polling station in Sonapur village, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Thursday, April 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) #

Voters smile and show their ink-marked fingers after casting their ballots at a polling station at Pargi village, 120 km (75 miles) west of the southern Indian city of Hyderabad April 16, 2009. (REUTERS/Krishnendu Halder) #

A policeman gestures threateningly towards voters breaking a queue, at a polling station on the outskirts of Hyderabad, India, Thursday, April 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) #

A Muslim woman displays the ink mark on her finger after casting her votes in Rae Bareli, India, Thursday, April 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) #

Security personnel keep guard, as polling officers, unseen, check electronic voting machines to be used in the first phase of elections, in Jammu, India, Wednesday, April 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) #

Policemen detain a Kashmiri protester, during a demonstration against the Indian general elections, in Srinagar, India, Tuesday, April 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) #

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in the northern Indian city of Mathura May 7, 2009. (REUTERS/K.K. Arora) #

Chief of India's ruling Congress party Sonia Gandhi (left) and India's Prime Minister-elect Manmohan Singh (2nd from left) smile during the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting at the central hall of the Indian parliament in New Delhi May 19, 2009. India's Congress party unanimously elected Manmohan Singh as leader of the Congress Parliamentary party on Tuesday, setting the stage for his appointment as prime minister, a Reuters reporter said. (REUTERS/B Mathur) #

A voter shows her ink-marked finger after she cast her ballot, outside a polling station in Thiksey, May 13, 2009. (REUTERS/Amit Gupta) #

More links and information

Indian general election, 2009 - Wikipedia entry

In India Election, Moderation Rules - NPR 5/19

Election Defines a New India NYTimes.com 5/19

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Amazing!!! Way to go India. Indian women have always been in the forefront and proactive.

Posted by Habiba Akhil May 25, 09 10:38 AM

Ejoy the photos for what it is. Please refrain from getting political. We have lot's of people to do that.

Big thanks to Globe for the posting.

Posted by Ravi May 25, 09 10:54 AM

Thanks Alan for getting all those gamut of images from different sources ..... really amazing colors and vibrancy. Shows still how strong Indian democracy is.....with all its flaws and corruption, but people have the strength to make a change.

Posted by ratndeep May 25, 09 02:02 PM

all indian are......

Posted by saif May 25, 09 04:41 PM

I am from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Spent 6 months traveling througout Rajastan, Bangalore, Chenai, Mumbai, and other places. Awesome pics from the last pool. Very particular look from this very particular country. Congratulations for the fantastic journalistic job..

Posted by Rafael Villela May 25, 09 06:06 PM

Its good to feel good about our great country but it's surely preposterous to comment that US should try to take a lesson or two from our country. Rather we have a long way to go to match the standard of democracy thats in place at US. How many of those 59-60 % of the electorate who casted their vote knew what they were voting for is a big question mark and what touches me most is that millions of our innocent electorates for whom election day is like a festival are taken for a ride mercilessly by the corrupt politicians vanquising all their hopes for a better future. Lets hope for a government thats truely by/ for & of the people for our beloved land.

Posted by Bikash May 25, 09 06:07 PM

Jai Ho!!!!!!!

Posted by Indian May 25, 09 10:20 PM

Super pics!

#31 is my fav!!

Posted by Narad May 26, 09 12:56 AM

I liked #30 most.

nice collage!

Posted by Chris May 26, 09 03:01 AM

Lovely series of portraits!

Posted by Andy May 26, 09 03:32 AM

Amazing collection of images. Indelible even....

Posted by AJ May 26, 09 05:01 AM

These pics show, among other things , how incredibly diverse our India is.
The photographs are stories in themselves and of exceptional quality.
Thank you.

Posted by Saibal Chatterjee May 26, 09 05:59 AM

Really nice pictures. A billion people, a billion faces, a billion emotions... thats my country.... India

Posted by Lavkesh Arora May 26, 09 06:23 AM

I thought Amitab and family knows when to show middle finger. Same to Them

Posted by sudhir May 26, 09 08:51 AM

wonderful!!!
Heartwarming and incredibly inspiring.
The real life drama that India is ..........

Posted by chetna May 26, 09 10:04 AM

wonderful!!!
Heartwarming and incredibly inspiring.
The real life drama that India is ..........

Posted by chetna May 26, 09 10:24 AM

I love all the pictures. Probably I may have to list the ones I don't like.

Amazing India! Great Democracy!!

Posted by Venkat May 26, 09 11:26 AM

Please take out #37

Let the positive things prevail!

Posted by INDIAN1 May 26, 09 11:37 AM

AMITABH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WOULD JUMP IN A DUNG HOLE FOR AMITABH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Mr. O-Negative May 26, 09 11:41 AM

@Kpanchal
In India holding up the middle finger isn't a sign of disrespect. In fact it doesn't mean anything, people use it to point to stuff while reading all the time. This is true all over Asia. You should really get your facts straight before bitching and moaning about some supposed "KNOWING OFFENSE"

Posted by ED45 May 26, 09 02:04 PM

Nicely done! Congrats for the fabulous job, probably the best photo set I have seen describing the democracy of India.

Posted by vardhman May 26, 09 02:25 PM

I missed the Election2009 this time as I was in U.S.A After going these photographs,for a moment, I felt that I was amidst the election 2009, India. Really the photographs are superb 1!

Posted by krishna Agarwal May 26, 09 08:35 PM

the photos are amazing, we could have done without the bachans pathetic sense of humour. here is a family of idiots who think showing their middle finger to the world at democratic elections is funny.

Posted by sonny May 26, 09 10:04 PM

Vibrant Democracey With Deep Commitment.

Posted by Colonel. S Bhan May 26, 09 10:19 PM

Unity In Diversity ...!

Posted by Isha May 26, 09 10:43 PM

Simply Brilliant!!!

Posted by Kartik Deuskar May 27, 09 12:12 AM

What a great nation we live in (India or US) we are all free to be as ignorant as we want with impunity...why must anyone hate people e.g. Bachhans to feel better? Why can we not rejoice in the greatness of such an event without exposing our own inadequacies and calling people names? The use of the middle finger is not totally dictated by western standards...the Indian culture has been in existence even before the Stone Age in the west so we need to bow to no one as far as symbols and what they stand for.

Posted by crazydoc1 May 27, 09 01:38 AM

Visual Journalism at it's best. Absolutely fantastic images by very able image makers in India.

Posted by Datta May 27, 09 03:25 AM

wht a pics, its just amazing, award winning photograpjy, love it

Posted by Yogesh Dawda May 27, 09 05:45 AM

There must be restriction for those who are foudn to be criminal, suspected criminal or cases lying against them in courts, moreover voting right given to all seems illogical particularly in case of India where illiteracy is in abundance in MP, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan. So those innocent people are forced to mark on the paper enticed by prespective MPs.

Posted by Anshu Neha May 27, 09 06:54 AM

Absolutely fantastic, what a diverse collection. But then it's such a diverse country.Thanks for sending me this wonderful collection.

Posted by Serena Franklin May 27, 09 10:19 AM

GREAT PHOTOS--THE COLOR IN THE WOMEN'S CLOTHING IS STRIKING. THANK YOU.

Posted by Joanne Wheeler May 27, 09 12:20 PM

first of all thanks Alan.. I dont know you.. but i owe you my thanks..

and guys.. please let the Bachchans be.. I am one of the few who know what all they have done for this country apart from being so visibly successful. the middle finger because they had to.. assembly elections index finger.. general elections middle finger.. stop bitching...

and guys.. Indian media is not biased for any candidates. Any national newspaper is bound by law to be unprejudices and fair to all candidates. Even a PM was not spared when he was caught taking 1 crore from a stock broker.. please..

and... please dont paint these pictures with the colors of hatred in name of religion or caste or anything...

they are beautiful.. Incredible India.. Unity in Diveristy... I love India...

Posted by belgian guy May 27, 09 06:13 PM

It refereshed my love for the country.Indians I am proud of you all . What happens here in India today is going to change the world tommorrow.

Posted by Rashmi Singh May 28, 09 12:43 AM

Absolutely amazing shot

Posted by Samrat May 28, 09 02:13 AM

So well done. captured the essence of the country...and these are the people who count. It is sad that if they can go make the effort to trudge miles to vote, us city dwellers cant get into our cars and vote. Especially after the public outcry and hype that surrounded the attacks in Mumbai.
As for sheer photography, brilliant! keep it up.

Posted by Mariette May 28, 09 03:54 AM

@All
Point 1 : The voting process in India is as transparent as air. The Electonic Voting Machines are credible and much faster and better than paper. We, Indians believe in our democracy and live by it.

Point 2: The Bachchans showing their middle finger was not at all a sign of abuse, but a symbol of their pride n belief in democracy. We very well know the meaning of showing the middle finger, but if the govt chose it to mark for voting, we feel proud to flaunt it :)

Point 3: India is the largest democracy in world. A land where maximum number of religions,laguages n races co-exist. Its the biggest example of Unity in Diversity.

Proud to be an Indian. Nice collection of pics.

Posted by Vikram May 28, 09 06:16 AM

Thank you Alan! amazing pictures; strummed my hearts guitar strings!

Belgian guy @ 176 talks like a human, as do so many others here.

quit comparing, lets just enjoy the pictures and celebrate India!

Posted by Col (Retd) R Katoch May 28, 09 06:48 AM

Amazing storytelling pictures.

Posted by Vladimir Dostalek May 28, 09 07:44 AM

Thanks for sharing these amazing photographs.

Posted by Zeenat May 28, 09 07:45 AM

Brilliantly covered the democratic india.. really nice snaps..thanks many

Posted by ameet May 28, 09 09:40 AM

awesome pictures.
Thats the real India .. that comes out irrespective of the heat and votes for the benefit of the country and its citizens.

Posted by SREESHA May 28, 09 10:20 AM

yea....desh ki aandhi......
rahul gandhi!

Posted by deepak sinha May 28, 09 02:06 PM

great images. thank you for your work.

long live democracy.

Posted by chakkar May 28, 09 02:19 PM

Visited India for free !!!
Excellent efforts.
Keep it up...

Posted by Abusaeed, Yanbu May 28, 09 05:50 PM

These are remarkable images! Such clear, sharp and poignant moments of a truly historical event. They are filled with emotion and depth.
Thank you for sharing them.
Long Live Mother India.

Posted by Nils Vidstrand May 28, 09 11:48 PM

beautiful pics.... m thrilled to c them all.. well captured.... India is truly so vibrant & lively..
thanks for the journey thru this pictures of real life...elections or voting is just one of the aspects... the truer one is LIFE :)

Posted by smita May 29, 09 02:34 AM

these pictures almost talk, and i have been rendered speechless!
incredibly vibrant :)

Posted by shalini priyadarshini May 29, 09 03:09 AM

Awesome Fotography

Posted by SANJOG KUMAR May 29, 09 03:46 AM

India is GREAT.

Posted by C G HIREMATH May 29, 09 07:14 AM

@sesta
USA is not the world. Seeing the EVM performance and speed, it is being ordered outside India from India. Stop thinking bad about India. Jai Hind

Posted by Krish May 29, 09 07:31 AM

It works ... democracy in India.

Jai ho

Posted by Mahim May 29, 09 03:12 PM

I AM PROUD OF MY COUNTRY :')
JAI HIND!

Posted by anand May 29, 09 09:11 PM

Wow. So vivid. Thanks.

Posted by Kevin May 30, 09 01:59 AM

The photos are lively.
I love my country, India is great, proud to be an Indian. Bharath Matha Ki Jai

Posted by Baiju May 30, 09 02:59 AM

Wow! I love it and really miss home as tears roll down my eyes. We really have it easy relative to those in these pictures (except for of course Big B).

Thanks for the moving images :)

Posted by Dhaarna Mehta May 30, 09 03:48 PM

Hi!
This makes me proud of being an Indian.
The "peoples verdict" is usually considered closer to "media openion", "official openion", "journalist perspective", "learned man's prediction", "a think-tank summary" or an openion poll by a "leading" but usually committed exit poll agency.
This time around it has been a mind blower and eye-opener for just one reason------- the sheer scaling up of a simple but "grass root-dirt street" process of voting -- diligently & painstaikingly executed can give us the TRUE verdict of the people! May we all learn the awakening of infinite possiblities.
Put ear to the ground and we shall hear what Nature's ways are--to heed and thrive!

Posted by Seetharaman May 30, 09 07:01 PM

Got this site link from webby.com in the section of best sites using photograph to publish news , and truly it is a great collection of Indian Election. Democracy at its best

Posted by zeck May 30, 09 07:33 PM

Great pictures of great democracy presenting real india.

Posted by Dhananjay Surti May 30, 09 08:45 PM

nice pictures !!!!!!!!!!
Mr.BigB whats wrong with you and ur family!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by ranjith thomas May 31, 09 06:55 AM

It's disheartening to see so many comments focused around one silly picture of people holding there middle fingers up.
The real tragedy is #31...I can't believe he's wearing black socks with his sandals.

Posted by Bond May 31, 09 12:51 PM

An amazing and treasurable collection of pictures! Makes me think of the many similarities between the US and India in terms of democratic foundations and polity. The US and India need to be closer to each other than any two other countries in the world and would be if it were not for the politics of statecraft that dicate compulsions contrary to each nation's interests.

Posted by Gopal May 31, 09 02:45 PM

Its really good to see our culture in the face

Posted by Sri June 1, 09 12:55 AM

Great Collection of Pictures which depict how diverse people are in India. ...Incredible...Thanks for publishing

Posted by Prabhakaran June 2, 09 09:37 AM

La India es un pais maravilloso,misterioso,pobre.,espiritual,y los rostros de sus habitantes son los m�s bellos que he visto
siemprebien39
argentina( fotografa amateur)

Posted by sure�a June 2, 09 01:22 PM

India should feel proud of its active democratic political system, where the people are truely diverse on several levels such as race and religion, yet together can see the strength of the vote for a democratic nation. Hopefully through people power, class and caste will eventually be relegated to the history books.

Beautiful emotive photographs, a testament to the documentary genre.

Posted by monika baker June 2, 09 04:57 PM

really a disgusting gesture from the bachan family ! if anybody have seen the video of the same, they could see that they were showing off the middle figure purposefully !

Posted by saju June 4, 09 01:29 AM

Amazing ; I am very proud of my country even with all its shortfalls Thanks alot Pranay for sending me this .

Posted by uma sharma June 4, 09 08:41 AM

Amazing pictuires ..... so vibrant and definitely does justice to democratic India. While there is cause for dismay, there is equal cause for a deep sense of pride in our country which is so diverse.

Posted by Marolla Meneaud June 4, 09 08:40 PM

Great people of a Great Nation with Great passion !! All depicted in such great photos! Truly Great ! Deserves the greatest appreciation and Adoration!
God Bless India - let us vow to root out corruption , casteism and hatred - Make the soul of Mahathma rejoice-

Posted by Jeyachandran June 5, 09 11:32 PM

Amaziing pictures covering most of the facets of elections. Its ironical that we take elections for granted and do not appretiate the effort which goes into it.

Posted by Prithwish June 6, 09 07:14 AM

Amitabh and family thinks its funny even when they know exactly what it means - its a universal gesture not just western. Shame on them

Posted by Sachu June 6, 09 04:50 PM

nice pictures, i liked all of them

Posted by Anantha Narayanan June 9, 09 05:06 AM

Amazing work done collecting these photographs. Keep it up. India Rocks.

Posted by Vignesh June 9, 09 05:06 AM

ya great india actually i lived in india for three years doin my studies u know what it is a country full of intelligent,at the same time absolute fools......damm dirty country no hygein...how can ppl live with shit everywre i hd a tough tim surviving as fr water man if u wan to liv a long life don touch indian water even mineral bottled waters are full of piss n shits.....other dan dat a nice place bt becarefulwit ur pure full of theives................

Posted by rudy June 9, 09 10:35 AM

A very good quality photographs of a massive event in India. Great Democracy. You can understand why India is such a free country in the world.

Posted by S. Ravindran June 9, 09 10:47 AM

For some ignorant people .. who are asking why middle finger:

In Maharashtra state as per Election commission middle finger was used for marking. Since there are upcoming state elections in Sept. (and i think index finger will be marked that time.)

Posted by Amit. June 9, 09 03:34 PM

show me the nice & interesting pictures on general election

Posted by shivam bagaria June 11, 09 03:08 AM

#1 made my day :)

Posted by Musharosky June 11, 09 05:38 PM

i lov all d pic seriously ... all d pic taken nicely ...

Posted by ashim June 15, 09 01:45 AM

Incredible India !
Truly that's the word that best describes the country...what a management challenge this is for any government.

Posted by Madhulika Gupta June 15, 09 05:38 AM

GORGEOUS photographs, taken with care and imagination!! I loved going through them. Thank you! :-)

Posted by Hema Maira June 15, 09 07:48 AM

wonderful pictures thank you!

re the controversy about the bachhans and the 'finger' -- perhaps many dont know that one of the younger bollywood stars ran a campaign to get the vote out amongst youngsters in Mumbai and the slogan was 'ungli uthao' or something similar (more about making voting a trendy thing i suppose) -- and its possible the election commission in suburban Mumbai took the message to heart about which finger to paint. i know for a fact that Bandra onwards everybody had their middle finger painted with indelible ink.
In Delhi, the election commision painted the right forefinger during the assembly elections and the left forefinger for the lok sabha elections.

Posted by kiran June 16, 09 08:43 AM

this is really an amazing insider view or what it was like at that time, all without leaving my desk, this continues to inspire me to keep on taking photos of the events that happen in our world no matter where we may be..... pictures really do speak 1000 words but the photographer chooses the story and they all affect us in some way or the other...thank you so much keep this running forever!!!

Posted by Clint Lashley June 17, 09 07:39 AM

Great pics (proud voter from Mumbai, here!) However, I'm rather disappointed that there are photos only from certain constituencies.

And the pic of the Bachchans ... it's funny, but oh how embarrassing! They clearly know what they were doing (and yes, the middle finger gesture is pretty well known in quite a large part of the country.) Maybe they meant it as a joke, but this was not the occasion for such jokes. It's like they were trivialising the whole election process.

@ Commenter 52: "A beautiful montage to show the hope brought about by Obama's victory over the oppressive dictator that ruled India" - You've confused both the time periods and the locations, my friend.

Posted by Lemon & Chillies June 17, 09 08:42 AM

the photos are first-rate to be sure. HOWEVER, as an american travel photographer currently traveling across india, and present for the entire duration of the elections, i can tell you for a fact that only accredited journalists (primarily indian) had access to the polling places and special events featured in these images; they were HEAVILY guarded by the police across india, and general foreigners with cameras were simply not allowed anywhere near the polling.

moreover, most if not all of the voters (especially the tribal and rural women, and definitely not the muslim women) featured in these images would NEVER regularly allow their photo to be taken, which makes me believe that those specific images were staged, posed or the subjects were perhaps "compelled" to pose for those photos.

these images are vibrant and nice to look at, and the photogs deserve credit for their talent, however the editors and publishers and even the viewers should just be aware that the above situations are not ordinary.

Posted by T June 18, 09 07:59 AM

nice pics
truly desi

Posted by Shantam Agarwal June 20, 09 07:02 AM

@218: Good to see that your studies actually helped with your grammar and spelling.

@229: What are you basing your observation that these women would never allow their picture to be taken? That they did not allow YOU to do it? I guess the point of accredition is to allow only legitimate journalists to do their job. Case in point- Look at #37- see something? Yes- a photographer. Sell your kool-aid elsewhere.
-a

Posted by aachoo June 25, 09 10:37 AM

it's nice to see the mirror of india

Posted by satish kumar July 1, 09 01:04 AM

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!! for showing our actual India to us.

Posted by Preeti July 10, 09 02:41 AM

I was looking for interesting photos of elections and these seems to be the ones I wanted . "Unity in diversity " - the dream of Nehru - is much hoped for , when I look at them . Sayed Mohammed Yacoob , Jubail Industrial College , Jubail Industrial City , Jubail , Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia .

Posted by Sayed Mohammed Yacoob July 11, 09 03:47 AM

great!great! great!

Posted by neha sharad August 25, 09 12:10 PM

wow it simply awesome
great collection
hats up to you
"PROUDE TO BE INDIAN''

Posted by THIYAGARAJAN August 31, 09 03:09 PM

To Shini on your comment on pic #29, You said "ignore these arrogant hot-heads". I may be wrong, but it looks to me as if they are just kidding around. Maybe there is something I am missing, because I wasn't there. But I don't see how that makes them arrogant or hot headed in any way.

Posted by Sam Hillis September 3, 09 12:49 PM

These pictures are of amazing quality. The colors are very vibrant and crisp. It is good to see so many Indians enthusiastic about voting.

Posted by Sam Hillis September 3, 09 12:52 PM

This is an awesome collection of pictures that captures an India that I have never pictured in my mind. I am an American, sad to say, but it is awesome to see everyone so enthusiastic to be voting. The colors are so crisp and vibrant that they really evoke emotion in the way they are presented. Very professional, like I even need to say that. I hope this was a good experience for your country and that you may prosper.

Posted by Sam Hillis September 3, 09 01:03 PM

Beautiful portfolio displayed...

Posted by Seamless Melody October 8, 09 11:11 PM

amazing photos-original kinda creepy!!!

Posted by joseph smith October 15, 09 08:23 AM

Amitabh family is great. It's not shame..it's sense of humor. And best part is that they are having fun. They are okay with their daughter-in-law doing that. Seriously, how many in our families tolerate that? I wish all families were that close.. especially in our culture.

Posted by happy guy October 26, 09 02:14 PM

Awesome photos! each snap is a story itself!

Posted by Nishant November 3, 09 07:45 AM