.As India’s much-awaited 2024 Lok Sabha elections’ first phase unfolded on Friday, Google’s iconic Doodle joined the country’s democratic journey by featuring the iconic ink mark on the index finger, a hallmark of Indian democracy. A click on the Google Doodle takes users, from across the globe, to witness the monumental scale of India’s vibrant democratic process being held in the seven phases from April 19 to June 1..
In the first phase on Friday a total of 102 constituencies in 21 States have gone to vote, including five constituencies from Assam. Phase 2 of the polls will be held next week on April 26, and 89 constituencies in 13 States will be voting, including five Assam constituencies.
Social media platforms were already buzzing with excitement as netizens shared the Doodle online and expressed their thoughts on this significant moment. @RT_India_news posted on X, “Google Doodle Salutes Indian Elections —Democracy’s Biggest Dance. Friday’s illustration depicts a hand with the index finger marked with ink, symbolising the start of the world’s largest elections in which nearly one billion people are eligible to vote. “The first phase of India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections is currently underway, with significant participation across multiple regions,” it posted.
Stella Paul with @stellasglobe handle termed Google’s move as “pretty cool” while one @virgojyoti02 found the move exciting “Let the festival of democracy begin!!! Google doodle”. Naveen Athresh, having X handle @naveenathresh said, “Google Doodle with our Indian elections voting to push people to vote. A nice touch.”
Pritansu Priyadarsini Biswal from Bhubaneswar in Odisha too was excited at Google’s innovative idea saying that, as citizens across the country exercise their right to vote, Google Doodle stands as a virtual companion, reminding us of the significance of our collective journey towards a more inclusive and democratic society.”
Dr Jagdish Kaur, founder of the WILGA, an NGO engaged in the empowerment of women, shared that, “Through this Doodle, Google aims to educate people about the importance of voting and to highlight the significance of democracy. This also shows how our democracy has become stronger every passing year.”
“I think the vibrancy of any democracy lies in the power of an individual vote which decides the future of any powerful country like ours. It is a welcoming move by Google which is presently the only country with 1.4 strong population to create awareness about elections,” Dr Rahul Bhargava, a bone marrow transplant specialist and haematologist at Fortis Hospital, Gurgaon echoed similar sentiments.
For Sanjay Ojha, Corporate Communication head at the ACME Group, it was “ like a significant moment for India. The Google Doodle seems like a thoughtful way to commemorate the start of such an important event. It’s great to hear about the high level of participation in the elections. The democratic process is a vital aspect of any nation’s governance.”
A senior official from the Delhi Election Office informed that the classic symbol of Indian polls will be visible everywhere - a left hand with only its index finger extended, marked by a purple-black indelible ink. Devised as a method to prevent a person from casting more than one vote, to preserve the principle of “one man, one vote”, the ink manufactured by Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd, a Karnataka Government Undertaking has been used in Indian elections for decades. The ink manufactured in India has also traveled to other parts of the world to be used in other elections.
