The Curious Case of 'Sir' and Electoral Rolls: What's Really Going On?

You know, sometimes the simplest things can kick up the biggest fuss, especially when elections are just around the corner. And in Assam, that's precisely what happened recently, all over a rather unassuming word: 'Sir.' Or, more accurately, its absence.

Indeed, a bit of a political storm — you could say — began brewing when forms for the ongoing electoral roll update in the state seemed to omit the formal honorifics 'Sir' and 'Madam.' And naturally, a prominent Congress leader, Bhupen Borah, wasn't shy about raising an eyebrow, lodging a complaint that hinted at a deeper, perhaps more sinister, motive behind this seemingly minor change.

But, as is often the case, the full picture is usually a shade or two different from the initial sketch. The Election Commission of India (ECI), quite promptly too, stepped in to clarify. And what they explained, in truth, pulled the rug right out from under the budding controversy. This wasn't some novel, targeted directive dreamt up for Assam, nor was it a recent innovation at all.

For once, the ECI’s explanation was refreshingly straightforward: the use of 'Shri,' 'Smt,' and 'Ms' has been the standard practice on all electoral roll forms across the length and breadth of India for quite some time now. We're talking about a policy, a directive actually, that dates all the way back to 2005. That’s nearly two decades, mind you, making the recent 'discovery' of 'no Sir' less a conspiracy and more a simple, if belated, observation.

So, while some might have seen the omission of 'Sir' or 'Madam' as a deliberate slight, or perhaps a move to subtly alter the tone of voter registration, it was merely the continuation of an established norm. The forms, you see, have always offered—and continue to offer—perfectly respectful and appropriate alternatives for denoting gender and marital status. 'Shri' for men, 'Smt' for married women, and 'Ms' for unmarried women or those who prefer it; these options, frankly, cover all the bases without needing 'Sir' or 'Madam' in the blank spaces.

It's a testament, really, to how quickly a small detail can inflate into a significant talking point, especially in the charged atmosphere of an impending election. But, thankfully, in this instance, a swift clarification helped everyone see that what looked like a new wrinkle in the electoral fabric was, in fact, just a long-standing thread in the grand tapestry of Indian election procedures.