Скачать или смотреть 1st general election (1951–52) is defining moments in the history of Indian democracy

The story of the 28 lakh (2.8 million) women during India’s first general election (1951–52) is one of the most defining moments in the history of Indian democracy. It represents a bold stand taken by the first Chief Election Commissioner, Sukumar Sen, to establish individual identity over social custom.

The Problem: Voters Without Names
When the first electoral rolls were being prepared, officials discovered a widespread cultural practice in North and Central India (particularly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh). Due to local customs, many women were hesitant to disclose their personal names to strangers (the male registration officials).

Instead, they registered themselves using their relationship to a male relative, such as:

"A's mother"

"B's wife"

"C's daughter"

Sukumar Sen’s "Act of Faith"
Sukumar Sen, an ICS officer and the man tasked with organizing "the biggest gamble in history," was firm. He believed that in a sovereign republic, every citizen must be recognized as an individual, not just an extension of a man.

He issued a strict directive: No voter could be registered without their own name. ### The Consequences

Awareness Campaigns: The Election Commission launched massive public awareness drives via radio and local officials to convince women to provide their proper names.

Extensions: In states like Bihar, a special one-month extension was given specifically to help women update their names on the rolls.

The Deletion: Despite these efforts, many remained bound by social taboos or were not reached in time. Consequently, Sukumar Sen ordered the deletion of nearly 2.8 million (28 lakh) women from the electoral rolls because they failed to provide their names.

The Legacy
While it was heartbreaking that 2.8 million women lost their right to vote in the first election, historians and political analysts view this as a "remarkable stand" for gender equality.

By the second general election in 1957, the message had been heard. The "anonymous" woman voter largely disappeared, and millions of women registered under their own names, asserting their individual identity as citizens of a free India. Today, women’s voter turnout in India often equals or exceeds that of men—a journey that began with this tough decision in 1951.