While the United States tries to figure out whether Hilary Clinton is man enough to take over the executive branch of government, India elects Pratibha Patil as its president , 23 years after the assassination of its female prime minister. This doesn’t say anything about India’s often-uncivilized attitudes towards women, but speaks volumes about that same issue here.
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All to the good, but wasn’t Indira Ghandi more significant?
Why did that happen twice?
Indira Gandhi was more significant, as is her daughter-in-law, Sonia Gandhi, head of the most powerful political party in India. That said, this woman president was elected by the Indian people, which shows what hangups they don’t have about women in power.
Not sure if Pratibha Patil’s election is a step in the right direction for women empowerment. This BBC article seems to have got it right.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6294238.stm
The sooner Indian politics comes out of looking up to the Gandhi dynasty (I don’t think political family does it enough justice ;) ) to lead the Congress party, I’ll consider it as a step forward.
-Amit