General Election – 1967

The tradition of electing rulers and leaders in India dates back to ancient times and finds mention in epics and scriptures. References to popularly chosen rulers and king-makers can be found in texts such as the Brahmanas. Even Buddhist literature from the 4th century B.C. mentions republics like that of the Lichhavis, where leaders were elected through a process known as ‘Chhanda’ or voting.

Village communities, trade guilds, and craft associations also had elected chiefs and administrative bodies. Even under various rulers and empires, these elected bodies continued to function in some form. The principle of indirect election was introduced by the British in 1892, but it wasn’t until 1909 that popularly elected representatives entered legislatures, albeit with a narrow electorate.

The Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935 gradually widened the electorate, but it was only with the inauguration of the Constitution in 1950 that the ideal of universal adult suffrage was realized. Since then, India has conducted several general elections, including those in 1952, 1957, and 1962. The 1967 general elections marked the fourth such event, with adult citizens voting for representatives from parliamentary and state assembly constituencies across the country.

The scale of these elections is immense, with millions of voters casting their ballots at thousands of polling stations manned by a large number of officers. The duration of the electoral process has decreased over the years, from four months in 1952 to just a week in 1967.

Recognizing the significance of these elections in the world’s largest democracy, the India Posts & Telegraphs Department decided to commemorate the occasion by issuing a special postage stamp on January 13, 1967.