Meira to address legislators in chamber that empowered Indian women

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will address legislators in the state assembly hall here Monday where a resolution to give the vote to women was adopted 88 years ago.

Assembly Speaker B.B.L. Butail told IANS that Motilal Nehru moved a resolution, endorsed by Lala Lajpat Rai, in this house in 1925 to give the right to vote to Indian women.

The resolution was adopted unanimously by the assembly, then known as the Central Legislative Assembly.

Meira Kumar is visiting the erstwhile summer capital of British India to preside over the golden jubilee celebrations of the assembly.

She will also address former legislators.

The speakers of the Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand assemblies have also been invited.

As per the archives of the assembly, Vithalbhai Patel was elected the first president of the Central Legislative Assembly from 1925-30. He became the president after defeating the British candidate by two votes.

This elegant building, earlier called the Council Chamber, was opened by Lord Reading Aug 27, 1925. The Central Legislative Assembly used to hold its summer sessions here during the days of the British Raj.

Leaders like Motilal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malviya, Lala Lajpat Rai and Satya Murthy along with Mohammad Ali Jinnah were members of the Central Legislative Assembly.

Butail said over 130 former legislators out of the total 170, who are alive, are expected to attend the address of the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Three legislators of the state's first constituted assembly in 1952, Gauri Prasad, Nehar Singh and Gian Chand Negi, will be present on the occasion.

After Independence, the Council Chamber came to house the Punjab Legislative Assembly, the state secretariat, the All India Radio Station and now it houses the state legislative assembly.

Butail said a coffee table book on 50 years of the assembly would also be released on the occasion.

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the golden jubilee celebrations by addressing the legislators May 24.