Tweet

Gone are the days when powers that were sniggered about `Kitchen cabinet`s` and `Jhansi Rani Durbars`. Emerge ` The power of five`. A power that is a reflection of today`s political scenario in India. The election of three more women Chief Ministers, has now shown the nation what the trend in leadership is.

"Woman is born free and her rights are the same as those of a man .All citizens, be they men or women, being equal in the state`s eyes, must be equally eligible for all public offices, positions and jobs, according to their capacity and without any other criteria than those of their virtues and talents," said Olympe de Gouges, a French writer and revolutionary, way back in the 18th Century.

India has always produced strong female leaders, notably Indira Gandhi.

Now in the new millennium, the elections to four States in India has resulted in a mandate that is historic.

This is the first time that India will have five women Chief Ministers. With Ms. Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu and Rabri Devi in Bihar, the elections saw Sheila Dixit retaining her powers and two more powerful women joining the exclusive club- Vasundhara Raje Scindia from Rajasthan and Uma Bharati from Madhya Pradesh.

It is interesting to note that Rajasthan and MP will have women as CMs for the first time.

These elections represent the latest chapter in the evolving story of women in Indian politics.

The ideal for these women could well be Rani Laxmi Bai, the 19th century queen who went into battle against the British with her son tied to her back.An image that could be the vision of every Indian woman - to win at no cost to the welfare of her family.

Be it a career, or politics, women power is the power of a work - life balance.