Indian Women Empowered

From Gulf News:

The inspiration that Indian democracy exudes was on full view as Meira Kumar became the first woman to become Speaker of the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

With Kumar's appointment, the power and influence of women in India was underlined.

The top three posts in the country's constitutional and political sphere are now held by women - Pratibha Patil is the president of India; Sonia Gandhi is the president of India's ruling party and now Kumar, a Dalit (lower caste Hindu), earns recognition.

Kumar's background has never been an impediment to her ability. She has served her country both as a bureaucrat and as a politician with success.

Her appointment on Wednesday coincided with the fact that 59 women parliamentarians, a record number, will be doing business with her in the House.