by Saliq Manzoor and Tashir Khan
GANDERBAL: In the hilly areas of Anderwan village, almost 14 km from here, lives 120-year-old Khan Bahadur Khan. Standing out not only for his age but also for his unyielding commitment to cast his vote, he is a person who knows the past and understands its linkages with the present.
Khan has been polling his vote for the past 70 years and is eagerly waiting to cast his vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, which are scheduled to be held on May 13.
Born in 1904, Khan has seen periods of peace and conflict, technological advancements, and societal changes, “I have seen many different periods in my life, I saw the period of Maharaja Hari Singh and I have seen the period of Sheikh Abdullah as well as of his son Farooq Abdullah,” Khan said.
Despite his age, loss of vision, and inability to move without the support of relatives, Khan remembers things including his responsibilities. ” I have lost my eyesight due to old age but it is important to vote for all individuals, regardless of their age or physical condition,” he said. “If I will not do it, my vote will go to waste.”
“He (Khan) is 120 years old, yet his passion to cast his vote has never diminished,” Mehbooba, a resident said. However, over the past 70 years, there has been no significant development in Anderwan. “Regardless of whom we elect, our basic issues such as roads, water, and electricity remain unsolved. Nevertheless, despite these challenges, I am grateful for his dedicated commitment to vote.”
Khan has consistently voted in every election for the past 70 years, which shows his strong sense of duty and optimism towards his village. “Yes, we have several problems in our village, like water scarcity, crumbling roads, and unemployment among educated youth but one should not shy away from their responsibility to vote.”
“He has been voting for the past 70 years, but unfortunately, the situation has not improved much,” Sameer Ahmad Choudhary, his neighbour said. “There are still several issues that continue to plague our community, such as the lack of basic facilities like water, electricity, and roads. We face difficulties in accessing healthcare services, and often have to carry patients to the hospital for treatment.”
Mobile schools which are the primary source of education in the summer times when they move upwards in the mountains, are struggling to keep up with the expectations of the villagers. “Due to the lack of teaching staff in the mobile schools which makes it difficult for the students to keep up with the pace of their education and lacks receiving adequate support.”
Khan is looking forward to the day of the election in which he will cast his vote and fulfil his civic duty. Despite the lack of progress he has witnessed over his lifetime, Khan remains faithful to his belief in the power of democracy. “I know that for the past 70 years, there has not been any major development in the area but I still want to vote, maybe the next elected candidate will make a difference in this village, I have put my belief in the Almighty Allah and He is watching everything,” Khan said.
