THE BALLOON MAN

They let go of trapeze to vote

Three artistes from Thalassery working with Gemini Circus — which pitched tent here on March 28 — took two days off to vote in the Lok Sabha election held in Kerala on April 10

from:  thehindu.com

by RAGHAVA M.

April 20, 2014 

Gemini Circus artists say vital to be part of country’s future

Duty-minded Sagar Ashok Kumre, a popular clown with Gemini Circus, is taking a break this weekend from the work, for a valid reason. Like a few of his colleagues, Mr. Kumre is going all the way to Manmad in Maharashtra to cast his vote for the Lok Sabha election on April 24.

“This is the first time I am doing so,” Mr. Kumre told The Hindu. Mr. Kumre, who is among the six clowns in Gemini Circus, said pressure of work made it difficult to take time out for voting. “But this time I decided to vote and have been granted a few days leave.” He said he had been calling his family to know about candidates in fray. “It is my duty to exercise the right,” he said.

Mr. Kumre is not the only artiste to do so. Three artistes from Thalassery working with Gemini Circus — which pitched tent here on March 28 — took two days off to vote in the Lok Sabha election held in Kerala on April 10. P.K. Vijayan, a clown, his brother Gangadharan and his colleague Sanjay N. were granted leave to exercise their franchise. “Last (Lok Sabha) election we came all the way from a place in Tamil Nadu. We try our best not to miss the chance,” said Mr. Vijayan (55), who has been in the circus since he was five years old. “We need to vote if we have to bring about a change in the administration,” said Mr. Sanjay.

But not all are fortunate. Babu Das (50), who hails from Kolkata, said it was difficult to get leave. “Though I want to exercise my right, the work is such it is difficult to get long leave to reach my native place. Distance is a big factor that prevents us from going to vote,” he said.