Mrs. Pratiba Patil: The first woman President of India
Mrs. Pratiba Patil has been elected as the first woman President of India. Celebrations are called out through out India by the ruling alliance, as if some wonder has happened. The opposition is very restrained to make any comment because they don't want to be portrayed as parties against women. Media in India is also jumping ground to sky as if India has conquered the world. Leaders should evolve, not to be created. In the Presidential election in India, the political party which has the majority support of the Members of Parliament and Members of Legislatures can make anybody as President. Moreover President of India is only a nominal head and all the executive powers are rested with the Parliament only. If it is so, what purpose it going to serve, in making a woman as President?
India has already seen a woman in the post of Prime Minister itself. Mrs. Indira Gandhi, one of the dominating Prime Minister of India ruled the country more than seventeen years. During her regime the Press used to jocularly mention that Mrs. Gandhi was the only man in her cabinet! She was such a popular and powerful personality. But this much celebration did not happen when she was elected as the first woman Prime Minister of India. That was the real occasion to be celebrated. Indians have seen many women in the post of Chief Ministers too like Mrs. Nandini Satpathy, Mrs. Jayalalitha, Mrs. Mamtha Banerjee, and Mrs. Uma Bharathy etc. These women had also proved their leadership quality during their rule. Even Mrs Pratiba Patil was the Ex Governor of Rajasthan. So there is nothing special to have a woman President in India. If at all the political parties want to do some good for the women they have to admit 33% reservation for women and many other things to improve their life. Instead of that, only by making a woman as President nothing can be achieved. The election of Mrs. Pratiba Patil can be welcomed, but it can not trigger any change in the socio economic scenario of the women community in India.
