"Punkawallah," the Torment of the Electorate and the Elected (Candidate)

Dear Readers:

I love elections and democracy in Turkey. There is a fair process. Sometimes the VOTER becomes the "Punkawallah," and sometimes the ELECTED one does. I know, you probably don't know what the word "Punkawallah" means. If you like, let me clarify this definition with a historical explanation, then we can continue from where we left off.

 HAND FAN

Since ancient times, it has been a tradition to use hand fans in hot and oppressive weather.

Especially from the 17th century onwards, the hand fan became a popular item and a part of daily life. Fans were not only used for cooling but also served as a stylish accessory and a means of communication. Various materials were used: paper, silk, feathers, lace... Fans mounted on sticks made of materials like bamboo, ivory, or seashells also reflected the artistic taste of the period. A significant industry developed for this. Ornate designs followed one another. Moreover, the materials used and complex designs also provided information about the user's social status.

Japanese girl and hand fan  

A concubine in the harem and a hand fan

Over time, hand fans used by ladies became a means of communication. In an era without smartphones and social media, it was possible to convey desired messages to the other party through the way a fan was held. For example, a closed fan held close to the heart conveyed a message of "love." If the fan was held close to the face with the little finger separated, it symbolized flirting and interest. Sometimes, a fan was also used to hide unsightly teeth. While Muslim women covered their faces against foreign men by wearing a hijab, Christian women would cover their faces with a fan, especially in church.

Electricity entered daily use in the late 19th century. Edison invented the light bulb in 1879. In a short time, streets, homes, and workplaces were illuminated by light bulbs. With Edison using Direct Current (DC) and Tesla using Alternating Current (AC), DC and AC motors quickly found application. The fan was invented, and hand fans fell out of favor.

 FAMILY-SIZED FAN

Although using a hand fan was primarily a ladies' interest, wealthy and noble men found a different solution. Thick fabric, bamboo, or mats woven from Indian cane were hung from the ceiling, and a servant, sitting in place, would pull a rope to move the enormous fans, cooling the room.

Ceiling-hung fans did not find much use in Europe because there was no suffocating and oppressive heat.

When Britain colonized India, it faced three major problems: spicy food, mosquitoes, and oppressive heat.

Avoiding spicy food was easy. But they were helpless against mosquitoes and oppressive heat. There was only one solution: enormous mats or fabrics called "punkha" were hung from the ceiling, tied with a rope, and the rope, passed through a pulley system, was given to an Indian servant. The poor man would sit in a corner outside the house, constantly pulling the rope.

A wealthy family... A large fan hangs from the ceiling... The poor Punkawallah cools the lady by swinging the rope outside

Poor Punkawallah... Sitting in the heat, swinging the rope, lightly dozing off

Later, tying the rope to the foot became a better solution. The "Punkawallah" would cool the noble British family in the room by moving his foot. When he got tired, he would seem to doze off, even fall asleep, but would continue to move his foot.

The Punkawallah swings the rope with his foot, dozing, and the lady is cooled

If the hall was large, then several "punkawallahs" would be used. They would lie on the floor, ropes tied to their feet, thus providing a comfortable coolness to the wealthy in the large hall by moving their feet. To ensure the enormous fans moved simultaneously and in the same direction, a servant would sit on a stool and control the punkawallahs lying on their backs on the floor.

Two Punkawallahs, lying on their backs, synchronously swing the rope with their feet, and an officer controls them

Sometimes, to prevent the "punkawallahs" from falling asleep while swinging their feet, powdered sugar would be sprinkled on them, and ants would swarm over the poor man's bare body, pinching him to keep him awake.

THE ELECTORATE'S TORMENT OF THE ELECTED

Only in Turkey is there a special relationship between the electorate and the elected. During election time, the electorate tortures the candidates. Candidates make a thousand promises and pledges: I will hire your son, your daughter; I will provide scholarships; I will drill a well in your village; I will build a hospital in your city; I will get title deeds for your houses built on treasury land; I will establish factories; I will build universities and faculties; I will open border gates; I will establish a free zone; I will make our city a tourism center; I will build a cable car; I will bring high-speed rail; I will open the Zangezur corridor...

Ah, my poor candidates... Ah, my poor prospective members of parliament... During election time, like "punkawallahs," they lie on the ground in the scorching heat, moving the rope tied to their feet, cooling and comforting the voters who sit comfortably in the large room. They also know that this is a seesaw game. They console themselves by saying, "It won't be long now," and try to endure.

As you can see, the "voter" citizens are in good spirits... They are cooling themselves with a fan... The poor candidate is lying outside, swinging the rope with his foot

THE ELECTED'S TORMENT OF THE ELECTORATE

After the candidate is elected as a member of parliament, this time the voter becomes the "punkawallah." It's impossible to reach the member of parliament... Their phones are either busy or silent, or they hang up on the voter, saying, "I'm in a very important meeting right now. I've taken note!" You go to their office in parliament, and they entertain you with such wonderfully sweet words that you believe them and return home joyfully, hoping your matter will be resolved today or tomorrow. As you hear nothing, you writhe in agony and sadness, becoming no different from the "punkawallah" swinging the rope in the scorching heat. If you press too hard, they show you the door, saying, "Did I force your vote? Besides, I spent a fortune. You shouldn't have voted for me!"

The member of parliament shows off for five years, welcomed and respected everywhere as "Mr. Deputy." Their retirement is now guaranteed, and most importantly, they have bought immunity. They are safe. The voter constantly grumbles, "I know what I'll do in the next elections," sharpening their revenge and postponing their reckoning, but for 5 years, they cannot escape being a "punkawallah."

The voter is burning in the heat, pulling the rope to cool the member of parliament

CONCLUSION

In no other country in the world is there such a fair (!) democracy as in ours. The seesaw system works perfectly. Everyone takes turns being the "punkawallah." Sometimes the voter is king; sometimes the elected one is...

There are two weeks until the elections now. The voters are sitting in the large hall in the scorching and oppressive heat, and the candidates are lying on their backs, ropes tied to their feet, cooling the voters. Well, let's hope for the best!

NOTE: This article does not target or imply any specific political party, candidate, or voter. The content is general!