Mr. Patil vs. Mrs. Shekhawat

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Watching the Republic Day parade is an annual ritual for most Indians. Sleepy middle-class families across India awaken to switch on their television sets, and a familiar, reassuring sight greets them. Lines and lines of soldiers marching in perfect unison. A symbol of the nation's pride, strength, and diversity. Only this year, there was one small, but vital difference. As each brightly caparisoned regiment moved inexorably forward, I was struck by another subtle symbolism.

The soldiers, each and every man among them, must salute the President while marching past the podium. And the President acknowledges the honour and returns the salute. This year, the person returning the salute was a diminutive woman clad in a white sari. For some reason, the sight of Pratibha Patil standing at attention during the march-past brought home to me the fact, that for the first time in Indian history, the Supreme Commander of our armed forces is a woman.

I know what the skeptics will say, for I number among them. The President of India is only the de jure head, and has little executive power outside the recommendations of the cabinet. I am well aware of this fact. But for a brief moment, I stepped out of the shell of skepticism, and allowed myself to feel pride, confidence, and oddly enough, the faintest sense of redressal.

Paradoxically, it was the feminist in me that reared her head and reminded me not to read too much into it. It is an undeniable fact that on her nomination for President, Patil was denounced by many, who thought she was not the best candidate for the job. It is equally unpalatable that she leveraged the historical significance of her position as a woman candidate to her advantage. So her election could be seen as the worst form of tokenism. This is a paradox Indians have to confront, and finally live with.

Other nations too are confronted by similar problems. In the US, a country ostensibly more developed than ours, pollsters are keenly watching women and African-American voters. The questions being asked are 'Did Hillary swing more women voters by her show of emotion before the New Hampshire primary?' 'How can Barack Obama's experience represent the lives of a majority of African-Americans?' And the most notorious one, 'Will Oprah root for Obama or Hillary?' Of course that question has long since been answered and replaced by 'Why would Oprah root for Obama rather than Hillary?' One political observer summed up the whole situation. When asked if he was hoping that people would vote on gender issues or along racial lines, he replied that he was looking for neither. He wanted people to come out and vote on the issues, and not just on the basis of gender or race.

Perhaps that is too much to ask of electorates that rarely see candidates from once marginalized groups, this tangibly close to taking power. It is an ideal, and will remain just that for some time to come. So I would like to add my voice to the cacophony and ask a question. It's not 'When will a woman be the US President?' Nor "When will an African-American preside in the White House?' But a step further, 'When will a black woman be President, and Commander-in-Chief?'

In our own back yard, there seem to be some signs of progress. Some well planned, and others, not quite as consciously executed. It takes a sense of humour to appreciate the faux pas made by our Republic Day commentator, who struck a blow for women's lib without knowing it. He unwittingly called Devisingh Shekhawat, President Patil's husband of many years, Devisingh Patil. The slip-up was swept aside as an absurdity. But it set me wondering...perhaps someday, someday Mr. Patil will be the acceptable, and perfectly natural post-nuptial alternative to Mr. Shekhawat.