The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
THE STORY OF INDELIBLE INK, A LASTING SYMBOL OF ELECTIONS
AS FRIDAY marked the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the classic symbol of Indian polls was under the spotlight again —a left hand with its index finger extended, marked by purple-black indelible ink.
Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd, owned by the Karnataka government, which is the sole manufacturer of the ink in India, told DD News that around 26.5 lakh phials or small bottles( with a capacity of 10 ml each) would be made for this election cycle.
Why is the ink required?
The indelible ink was first manufactured at the Election Commission of India’s request by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research. The Mygov website says, “It was to counter the challenge of fraudulent voting” that research work on formulating the ink began in the 1950s by scientists. Later, the
National Research Development Corporation patented it.
Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd has been licensed to manufacture the ink and has been in the business since 1962. It was established in 1937 by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore.
How long has it been in use?
The Representation of the People Act (ROPA) of 1951 mentions the ink. Section 61 states that rules may be made under the Act “for the marking with indelible ink of the thumb or any other finger of every elector who applies for a ballot paper or ballot papers for the purpose of voting at a polling station before delivery of such paper or papers to him.”
When ballot papers were the norm, voters had to mark their preference on them. Before the paper was given, a voter’s index finger would be marked with the ink.
The ROPA also speaks of rules being formulated “for prohibiting the delivery of any ballot paper” to anyone having a mark.
An ECI report on the first general elections (1951-52) said the ink was applied with a glass rod. A total, 3,89,816 phials were supplied to the states for Rs 2,27,460. The mark was made on the base of the forefinger until the 1962 general elections, after which it was made above the root of the nail on the skin.
What makes it indelible?
Indelible ink contains silver nitrate. It is colourless and becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light, like sunlight.
At around 20% concentration of silver nitrate, the ink becomes difficult to remove for at least 72 hours after application.
According to Mygov, “This waterbased ink also contains a solvent like alcohol to allow its faster drying.”
Currently, each phial is sold for Rs 174. The ink is exported to more than 25 countries. However, the procedure of its application varies. “In Cambodia and the Maldives, voters need to dip his/her finger into the ink... in Burkina Faso the ink is applied with a brush, and nozzles are used for its use in Turkey,” the website says.