At 103, India’s first voter keeps date with democracy
SHIMLA/DHARAMSHALA: State election authorities rolled out a red carpet in the honour of Shyam Saran Negi, Independent India’s first voter, who came out to exercise his franchise despite his advanced age and biting cold.
Negi, 103, cast his ballot at a polling booth in primary school of Kalpa panchayat in Kinnaur, which went to polls in the first round of three-phased panchayati raj institutions (PRI) elections. Kinnaur deputy commissioner Hemraj Bairwa felicitated Negi at the polling booth.
Youth should draw inspiration from him, says Kinnaur DC
“Youth should draw inspiration from him, as he came walking despite his age. People should understand the message that how important their vote is for the democracy,” Bairwa said.
Dressed in traditional Kinnauri attire, Negi was welcomed by officials as a band played traditional melodies on his arrival.
The local administration had made arrangements to help Negi reach the polling booth.
Born on July 1, 1917, as per his official records, Negi was first to cast his vote in India’s maiden general elections. The elections in India were held in February 1952 but polling was conducted in tribal Kinnaur five months in advance owing to fears of inclement weather which would have rendered the exercise futile as the valley remained snowbound in winters. Ever since, he has not missed a single election.
Kalpa then was called Chinni. In 2012, the then chief election commissioner, Naveen Chawla, had visited Negi’s home in Kalpa to felicitate him and acknowledge him as Independent India’s first voter. During the 2014 elections, Google had made a video featuring Negi for its ‘Pledge to Vote Campaign’.