Things are getting a little wild in West Bengal – literally! You have Royal Bengal Tiger Baghu helpfully doling out gyan on the importance of voting and Gendu, a feisty rhinocerous from the Dooars, cheerfully pointing out polling stations to those who care to ask.
Then there’s that grave old turtle, Mohanbao. There’s nothing about the elections this wise old fellow doesn’t know.
All these wonderful creatures have been brought to life by The District Election Sections. Their people have been extra creative this election season with their animal mascots, says a PTI report.
Popular fictional characters are doing their bit too.
So Gendu is on a temporary visit from his home in the Dooars to work in Alipurduar district.
Mohanbao lives in Coochbehar.
Baghu is spending time with the people of South 24 Parganas district, home to the Sunderbans, reminding them not to miss their chance to participate in the democratic process.
His counterpart in the Darjeeling hills is a red panda who doesn’t want to disclose his name for reasons of privacy.
"Bengal's rich cultural diversity is highlighted through our campaign, aiming to motivate voters to participate in the electoral process," says an election official.
"Instead of formal language, we are trying to reach out to voters with characters that are closer to their hearts.” She believes it will have a greater impact on people.
Every character has meaning and a close connect to the locals. Teesta, a little girl, has been named after the river, which is the lifeline of the region.
In the Kolkata Uttar constituency, Tenida – a much-loved fictional character who is not very academically bright but is much admired for his courage, honesty and presence of mind – motivates people to vote in the Potoldanga area where his character is based.
The Vote Gopal mascot of Nadia is based on the immortal court jester Gopal Bhar of medieval Bengal. The comic strip character of Batul the Great is active in Howrah, the birthplace of his creator Narayan Debnath.
In the coastal district of Purba Medinipur, a character based on crabs is promoting voter turnout, while in Hooghly, the Jagannath Rath of Mahesh is accompanying the Election Commission's messages for voters in hoardings and posters.
Ghotoknath, an avatar of the famed terracotta horse of Bankura, is hard at work in the district of the same name, reminding the locals of their cultural heritage.
"Such initiatives raise awareness among the people not only about elections, but also about their area's heritage, culture and natural resources," said Anjana Brahma, a professor of Bengali at KK Das College in Kolkata.
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