TIMES OF INDIA: INDIA GETS ITS FIRST WOMAN SPEAKER – MEIRA KUMAR

Bridging both gender and caste divides, India’s parliament unanimously elected its first female speaker, Meira Kumar, who is also a member of the low-caste Dalit, or “untouchable” community.  Kumar will join Mayawati, the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, in the ranks of prominent female Dalit politicians.  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh commended her fellow female MP by hailing the event as an “historic occasion” in Indian politics.  Kumar’s election contributes to a richer political environment and encourages greater participation of both women and members of the Dalit caste in Indian politics.

Read full article here.  More on Meira Kumar

Question to the Blogosphere:  Do you think that being from the Dalit community played a significant role in her election?   What does this mean for women and for the caste system in India?