Reporter’s Diary: An Afrojack a day, keeps the pollsters in sway

At the fag end of the campaign trail, this reporter had the opportunity to get up close with a group of bandsmen that accompanied a major party as part of their campaigning initiative.

The band members — boys dressed in outfits straight out of a pantomime, were drenched in sweat as they beat their drums and clanged their cymbals, while a loudspeaker blared out songs in praise of the candidate. Amidst the cacophony, one bandsman stood out with a super eclectic haircut. Sporting an Afro that would make Bob Marley proud, the bandsman became a centre of attraction for onlookers, who were all keen to take a selfie with him. While he was gracious enough to oblige most requests, this reporter also overheard a group of young salespersons from a nearby shop mock the gentleman’s Afro - referring to it as a bird’s nest (Kuruvikoodu in Tamil). But the nonchalant youngster remained unfazed and continued drumming — reminding us all, how arduous some of our journeys are.