Justice for women, not a political gambit

The promise of the women’s reservation bill should not be diluted by procedural deferrals or political trade-offs. Representation must be realised within a clear and time-bound framework

- Margaret Alva

There were many moments when the bill seemed destined to remain a symbol rather than a reality.

(HT ARCHIVE)

It was June 1975. Women political leaders, parliamentarians, activists, and NGOs came together in Mexico City at the First UN Conference for Women to demand their place on the decision-making “high tables” of their countries. Their voices were loud and clear: “We cannot be kept out.”

It was my first exposure to a world forum of this magnitude. I was 33 years old — young and full of ideas. I participated in discussions, spoke out on changing the status of women and supported the demand for quotas in political representation to ensure their entry into the political mainstream. I heard, I was convinced, and I became part of the International Women’s Movement for change. The plan of action adopted at the end of this conference made a clear demand for 33% reservation of seats and positions in all political bodies. The die had been cast — there was no turning back. It became part of the natural plan of action. The decade that followed saw many initiatives taken, but a stubborn opposition blocked every effort at reservations for women.

Inside Parliament, the struggle for women’s reservation was never linear. It was contentious, frequently stalled, and often dismissed as politically inconvenient. Yet, behind the scenes, there existed an extraordinary solidarity among women leaders.

I remember long conversations with Pramila Dandavate, whose conviction came from a deep democratic ethic, not expediency; and Geeta Mukherjee, who brought tenacity and strategic patience, ensuring the bill was never allowed to disappear quietly. We came from different ideological traditions (Dandavate represented the socialist/ Janata stream, and Mukherjee was with the CPI), but on this issue, we women inside and outside Parliament recognised a shared responsibility.