Indian musician, lyricist and former politician Kabir Suman has revisited his long and complex relationship with voting and political engagement, sharing memories from his early life and later involvement in elections.
Speaking about his formative years, Suman recalled growing up around strong political discussions at home, where differing ideological views between his parents often led to heated exchanges. He described a household shaped by contrasting affiliations, with both Congress and Left-leaning sympathies influencing everyday conversation, though he said these debates remained within a family setting.
Suman also spoke about his early political outlook, saying he once believed that electoral politics alone could not bring meaningful change and that larger social movements were necessary. He added that during his younger years he stayed distant from formal party politics and campaigning activity.
The singer went on to recall his first experience with voting, describing it as chaotic and confusing, with overcrowded polling conditions and little clarity on the process at the time. He said the experience left little impression beyond the disorder of the day.
Over time, Suman said his perspective shifted after he became directly involved in electoral politics. He later served as a Member of Parliament from Jadavpur between 2009 and 2014.
Reflecting on that transition, he acknowledged that participation in elections changed how he viewed the process, moving from scepticism to engagement. However, he said voting remains only one part of a much larger political reality shaped by social and cultural forces.
