Mahatma Gandhi was once asked at a prayer meeting who, according to him, was an ideal candidate for the President of the Indian republic. Should it be an Englishman or someone like Jawaharlal Nehru, educated, experienced, and fluent in French? The Mahatma’s response was typical of the man who had pointed to the career options of farmer, labourer and scavenger for his four sons.
“My answer,’’ said he, “is that if I have my way, the President of the Indian Republic will be a chaste and brave Bhangi (sweeper) girl. If an English girl of 17 could become the British Queen and later even Empress of India, there is no reason why a Bhangi (sweeper) girl of robust love of her people and unimpeachable integrity of character should not become the first President of the Indian Republic. It is not necessary that the President should be a highly educated person knowing many languages. We do not want to display our pride to the world by electing a learned Brahmin or a Kshatriya as the President of India. By electing a Harijan girl to that office we shall demonstrate our soul force. We shall show to the world that in India there is no one high and no one low…
“She should be chaste as Sita and her eyes should radiate light. Sita had such radiance that Ravana could not touch her. If I can find such a girl she will be our first President. We shall all salute her and set a new example before the world. After all she does not have to concern herself with running the Government of India. She will have a cabinet of ministers and she will act on its advice. She will merely have to sign papers… If such a girl of my dreams becomes President, I shall be her servant and I shall not expect from the Government even my upkeep. I shall make Jawaharlal, Sardar Patel and Rajendra Babu her ministers and therefore her servants.’’
Well, we do have a woman President today, though one wonders whether the Mahatma would approve.
Source: The Times of India, dated 03.09.200