SURAT/BHARUCH: From East India Company to Nano, they have seen it all. They may not have had formal education, but these centurions in Gujarat set an example for those shying away from voting.
In Surat's Hirabaug polling booth, all eyes were glued on 110-year-old Ujiben Kakadia, the oldest voter in the city. She came in her grandson's car to cast her vote on Thursday morning and was accompanied by her 78-year-old daughter Laduben Borda.
Ujiben refused to say whom she voted for. For her grandson Tulsi Borda , it was a surprise on Wednesday night when Ujiben expressed her wish to exercise her franchise for the second time in the past 15 years.
It was in 1995 that Ujiben had cast her vote in Surat. A native of Panchpipla village in Palitana taluka of Bhavnagar district , she has been living in the city for the past 35 years. Borda (40) said, "Since 10 years she has not been keeping well. At present she is fine."
Voting is nothing less than festival in Rozghat village of Narmada district. And, the most excited person to reach the polling booth is none other than 117-year-old Kathudia Dada. The Election Commission had actually made him its icon to promote voting in the state.
Kathudia Dada woke up at the break of the dawn and ensured that 65 members of his family exercise their franchise.
T he 117-year-old walked for almost a kilometre from his house to reach the polling booth at a primary school. And, the scene was nothing less than a procession. They walked in two separate lines of males and females. Kathudia Dada has a family of 80 out of which 65 are registered voters. He has five sons and two daughters.
"Voting day is nothing less than a family festival for us. I have cast my vote in all post-Independence elections," he said.
At 100 plus, they keep 65-year-old India healthy
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At 100 plus, they keep 65-year-old India healthy
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At 100 plus, they keep 65-year-old India healthy
