At 96, Kathua woman continues her tradition to exercise franchise

Dinesh Manhotra & Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Rasana (Kathua), April 18

Raj Kumari, 96, has voted ever since the first General Elections were held in the state in 1967.

On Thursday, the resident of Rasana village in Kathua district walked nearly one-and-a-half kilometres to keep up with her tradition to vote.

On her arrival at the polling station, set up at Government Primary School, Dhamayal, Raj Kumari was welcomed by villagers with cheers for showing enthusiasm to exercise her right to franchise even at this age. She was accompanied by her family.

After casting her vote, Raj Kumari sat under a peepul tree near the polling station, waiting for the other family members to cast their vote.

“I still remember the first time I cast my vote. I have never missed any election in my life,” the nonagenarian told The Tribune.

“By the grace of God, I am happy to get yet another chance to vote at the fag end of my life. I appeal to all people to cast their vote because it is important,” Raj Kumari said.

Despite not keeping well, Raj Kumari showed enthusiasm to participate in the democratic process. “We told her to stay home but she was adamant on casting her vote,” said Santosh Kumari, Raj Kumari’s daughter-in-law, who sat beside her under the peepul tree.

When Raj Kumari lived in Amritsar, where her late husband had a job, she used to come to Rasana to cast her vote, said Santosh.

“During every election, she made it a point to reach her native place to cast her vote,” Santosh Kumari said. “The third generation of the family is also keeping the voting tradition alive. Her grandson, who is doing engineering outside the state, has especially come to cast his vote.”

The first Assembly elections in J&K were held in 1951 when the polling was held for the Legislative-cum-Constituent Assembly. From 1951, Raj Kumari has voted in all Assembly elections as well.