That era of elections…when even pigeons used to do election duty
– Photo: Amar Ujala
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Elections, the biggest festival of democracy, have seen many changes over time. While the Commission is exchanging messages with the help of state-of-the-art technology in the Lok Sabha elections going to be held this year, there was a time when the administration had taken the help of pigeons in the elections. These pigeons used to act as messengers in the same manner as we use WhatsApp or other messaging platforms today. For this the police department had trained pigeons.
Political parties are using modern technology like Artificial Intelligence in elections, but in the 1967 elections for Orissa Assembly, the administration adopted a unique method. The administration had also used pigeons in the elections. Some polling stations in Orissa were located in remote forests. Election workers had to face a lot of difficulty in reaching these inaccessible places. Besides, it also took a lot of time.
According to the news published in the February 19, 1967 issue of Amar Ujala, the Orissa Police Department had trained about 300 pigeons and put them on duty during the elections. After that, these trained pigeons were employed to deliver messages to the polling stations. These pigeons were trained in such a way that they could quickly deliver election related messages to the polling stations located in dense forests. Since these pigeons passed through the forest, there was a fear that people might hunt them on the way.
The administration had also asked the Forest Department that its employees should ensure that the tribals do not kill them with arrowheads and drop them. Also, the employees were told that care should be taken that people do not catch these pigeons.
