ELECTIONS AT THE PRESS CLUB, HYDERABAD

It happened after two years, considering the pandemic and so the elections at the Press Club was all excitement and enthusiasm. And I use the words loosely for messages for votes are still coming in and probably will till the last vote is counted.

Most of my press friends know what and where the Press Club is, but for my other friends, this place is opposite Eenadu office, next to the RTA office with the other side being the residential quarters of Bella Vista, which used to be a royal palace of the Nizam and is now familiarly known as ASCI or Administrative Staff College of India, which imparts training in the field of Civil Services Development.

Earlier it used to be opposite the Nizam College, where we used to drink on the terrace, late into the night and the snacks would come from the second floor of the building. Though a couple of chairs have been known to fall from up there, we all found our way back on those narrow stairs. Now the Journalist Unions of the two states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have their offices here.

I must tell you more about the Press Club, fondly known to us attending denizens as PC. Though it sounds like a cliche, it is like being at home or a home away from home. It is the watering hole for us journalists and a place to exchange news and gossip about the media houses and everything else. Sometimes if you have raised one too many glasses it all gets very maudlin.....we have been known to cry and take the support of many a tree....

Now we have a building which is decent enough and with a pocket size lawn too and though I would not call it discrimination, a huge shed which is only for journalists. Which only, means we cannot bring our guests here. Gives me all kinds of goosebumps when I dwell upon that. We run a decent bar and a very good kitchen and the place feels like home when you go there. It is also because I am never part of the drama which takes place quite often, later into the night. Anyways about that later.

Waiters greet you like how a family should and service is with a smile and those of us extra familiar with this place, also use expletives when they think they have not been served. But knowing us so well, the guys simply continue to serve sassily. I have been there early enough for a cup of tea, since the bar opens only at 6.30 pm and it has never felt out of place and probably someone would get me a cup of tea too.

Elections, I think used to take place every two years and with the kind of hulaboo that took place this year, if elections are held each year, there would be a problem. But then that is my opinion. Of course I have attended a lot of elections and on the day of voting, as you enter the portals of the club, you have to necessarily walk the gauntlet of candidates, who will smile, shake hands with you and ask for a vote. It used to be gentle, with less expectations, or so I think in retrospect.

This time around the gates of the PC were closed and there were droves of cops. And a guy in a safari suit asked for my ID card (Yes, we are proud of our PC ID card, which takes us to all our PCs across the nation). There were flexis of candidates😲 outside the PC. Once you entered the gauntlet started immediatelt. People had printed little cards and papers about themselves and shoved it into our hand, where we did not even get a chance to read or acknowledge the person. What a gross waste of money, I would think.

Earlier you would go to the table and the guy there would actually know your name and number. Times, they have changed. I had to show my ID card and announce my number😢. This time there were a number of women candidates for all the positions and they were there meeting and greeting all who came in. And a bunch of them were allowed to stand right at the entrance of the voting booths at the shed (the place where we journalists have our drink).

 What surprises me each time that all this is conducted with great propriety and all the members take the trouble of giving their vote. I mean those who otherwise do not visit the club at all, for various reasons. Now the votes will be counted and the candidates will wait with bated breath. Without the support of a drink, for the bar will not open till the last result has been announced. And in those days when I would also be part of the crowd waiting for the results it has been quite late into the night.

This is also the time to catch up with colleagues who are rare visitors. It has become quite the problem after the `no driving after a drink' law has come in. Should have been imposed long ago, but that it would act as a deterrent for many a colleague makes me feel bad.

Best of luck to all the candidates and may the deserving win.....

Then they gave us a bundle of papers