Satire | Coping with deletion
A satirical piece reflects on the bureaucratic absurdity of receiving a notice that one's name is being deleted from the electoral roll due to being 'deceased.' The author uses the experience to comment on administrative errors and the existential nature of identity.
Why it matters
It highlights the frustration citizens face when dealing with flawed government administrative systems and data discrepancies.
It was exactly six weeks ago that I received the following notice.
“It is proposed to delete your name from the electoral roll of [Name/Number] Assembly Constituency on the ground that you are reported to have ceased to be ordinarily resident at the address recorded in the electoral roll, on account of you being deceased. Also, you seem a patriotic Indian in the photo on your voter ID but resemble an anti-social element in your Aadhaar photo — a classical form of logical discrepancy. A dead man with a logical discrepancy has no place on the electoral roll.
Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on the Electoral Registration Officer under the Repression of the People Act, 1951, you are hereby asked to show cause why your name should not be deleted from the electoral roll.
Your reply should reach the undersigned by yesterday.
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