On August 15, 1947, India emerged from over two centuries of British colonial rule and embarked on a journey towards self-governance. Just over two years later, on January 25, 1950, the nation established the Election Commission of India (ECI), a critical step towards democracy in a country deeply scarred by colonial exploitation and the turmoil of partition. The first general elections were on the horizon, and they rested heavily on the shoulders of one man: Sukumar Sen.
Sukumar Sen: Pioneering Indian Democracy
Appointed as the first Chief Election Commissioner on March 21, 1950, Sukumar Sen faced unprecedented challenges. The goal was to conduct the first general election by 1951, making him a pivotal figure in transforming the theoretical framework of constitutional democracy into a functioning reality. Although not widely recognized today, Sen’s efforts are set to gain attention through an upcoming Netflix series, Hum Hindustani, featuring Saif Ali Khan as the lead.
Sukumar Sen was born in 1899 and began his academic journey at Presidency College in Kolkata. He later graduated from the University of London, where he excelled in Mathematics, earning a gold medal. His career in public service began in 1921 when he joined the Indian Civil Service (ICS). Eventually, he held the position of Chief Secretary of West Bengal before becoming the Chief Election Commissioner.
Historian Ramachandra Guha captures the enormity of Sen’s responsibilities in his book, India After Gandhi: “For no officer of state, certainly no Indian official, has ever had such a stupendous task placed in front of him.” The scale of the electorate was staggering, comprising 176 million Indians aged 21 and older, most of whom were illiterate. This monumental task included not just registering voters, but also designing voting symbols and ballot papers suitable for a largely unlettered electorate.
The Logistics of a Historic Election
The logistical challenges were immense. Polling stations needed to be strategically located, and a team of skilled and honest polling officers had to be appointed. Sen was supported by two Regional Election Commissioners and a Chief Election Officer for each state, creating a robust organizational framework.
The first parliamentary election post-independence involved about 173 million voters and 1,874 candidates vying for 489 Lok Sabha seats. Conducted between October 25, 1951, and February 21, 1952, these elections marked the dawn of the world’s largest democracy, featuring 68 phases and culminating in Jawaharlal Nehru being crowned as the first Prime Minister of India.
The scale of this election was jaw-dropping. Authorities set up 196,084 polling booths, including 27,527 specifically reserved for women. Two million steel ballot boxes were manufactured at an expense of Rs 1,22,87,349. Additionally, approximately 16,500 clerks were employed on six-month contracts to assist in compiling the electoral rolls, consuming a staggering 380,000 reams of paper in the process. Unlike Western electoral systems which commonly use party names, Indian elections relied on symbols, a reflection of the country’s literacy challenges. Furthermore, innovative inks were developed to prevent impersonation at the polls.
A Legacy of Smooth Elections
Pranab Mukherjee, a former President of India, aptly described Sen’s role: “chosen to play obstetrician and to deliver Indian democracy’s first crop of nearly three thousand elected representatives.” Sen’s ability to blend humility with authority proved vital. He maintained an unassuming presence, ensuring that the operational mechanics of democracy ran smoothly and efficiently. His unwavering commitment to fair elections helped lay the foundation for the electoral system in India, which continues to thrive today.
The challenges Sukumar Sen managed during this formative period set the stage for future electoral processes in India, ensuring that the ideals of democracy would be upheld even amidst the complexities of a diverse and populous nation.
