Meira Kumar Makes History: Becomes First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha

The 64-year-old Kumar, Congress' dalit face, a former foreign service official and Union Minister, Meira Kumar has made history in the Lok Sabha when she was unanimously elected its Speaker and thus became the first woman to occupy one of the high Constitutional posts. She was elected after a resolution moved by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and seconded by Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee was approved by a voice vote amidst thumping of deks by the entire House.

Historic Moment
Meira Kumar, elected from Sasaram in Bihar in the recent elections, is the daughter of the former iconic dalit leader Jagjivan Ram.

Meira Kumar’s election as a historic moment and her services as a distinguished diplomat, 25 years in Parliament and her role as a Minister would stand her in good stead to execute her onerous job well.

Elevating Meira Kumar would boost the community’s pride. Besides helping the Congress counter Mayawati as caste queen and rekindle hope in Bihar, MeiraMeira Kumar and Jagjivan Ram’s home State.

Empowerment of Women
In the present Indian society, the dalit women are still the worst off. They are abused, raped and killed by upper castes as a matter of course. And the criminals go free; less than one per cent of crimes against dalit women end in conviction. Given this utter disrespect for dalits and women, Meira Kumar’s becoming Speaker — especially in the era of live television — may help restore some dignity to our bruised and battered nation.

Undoubtedly, a woman Speaker may remain a mere novelty. We have seen Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, President Pratibha Patil, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and several woman Governors, we have seen Najma Heptullah preside over the Rajya Sabha as Deputy Chairperson, and these have not significantly changed attitudes towards women or violence against them. But a dalit woman in a position of such eminence is different. For the fight against caste discrimination is as much a fight for rights — to life, to food and water, to education and employment, to justice — as for dignity.

Revival of Dalit
India has always had robust icons of dalit pride. Like the late President K.R. Narayanan, the magnificent “Citizen President”, and the present Chief Justice of India, K.G. Balakrishnan — both born in poverty-stricken rural dalit families, rising to their positions of incredible eminence on their own steam. It made us very proud. We had a dalit deputy prime minister in Jagjivan Ram decades ago, and later, a dalit Speaker in G.M.C. Balayogi. We have Mayawati, a dalit woman, heading India’s biggest State. But none of these helped end caste discrimination.

The country still has one million dalits working as human scavengers, physically carrying shit and cleaning sewers. A crime is committed against a dalit every 18 minutes. Every day, two dalits are murdered, three dalit women raped, 11 dalits beaten, 27 atrocities committed against dalits.

Almost every week, 13 dalits are murdered, five dalit homes or possessions burnt, six dalits are abducted.

Dalits are frequently barred from police stations, denied access to village wells and shunned even by health workers.

More than half of dalit children are undernourished; they frequently face segregation in school. Untouchability is often obvious during mid-day meals.

Naturally, they drop out of school. From access to drinking water to education, health care or justice, dalits are routinely denied equal rights and opportunities.

Tough Time Ahead
Someone has rightly said that it is not easy to step into the shoes of elder statesman Somnath Chatterjee, one of the finest Speakers the Indian Parliament has ever had. It may be especially difficult for soft-spoken Meira Kumar, who has been elected as Lok Sabha Speaker.

Will the shy former diplomat manage to control with her childlike voice our shamefully rowdy members of Parliament, honourable jumping-jack representatives of the people, forever screaming their heads off, a querulous, agitating VIP mob that even Speaker Chatterjee’s exasperated bellows often failed to restrain?

The very reputation of the Parliament is now at stake. Meira Kumar would at times have to act as sternly as a schoolteacher and at other times as patiently as a mother to get legislative and other business done. Time will better tell the story!