India, the world’s largest democracy, boasts 900 million eligible voters. However, a significant number of young Indians abstain from voting.
Amidst the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the late 106-year-old Shyam Saran Negi emerges as a beacon of inspiration. A retired government teacher from Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, Negi has diligently exercised his voting rights since India’s inaugural General Elections in 1951.
Shyam Saran Negi: India's First Voter
Reflecting on his father's legacy, Negi's son Chander Prakash recounts a moment during India's first independent election.
“My father was assigned poll duty during the first election of independent India. Back then, he requested to first cast his vote in Chinni, now Kinnaur, and then move to his polling station where he was assigned duty. Fortunately, his request was accepted by the officer concerned and that is how he became the country’s first voter,” reports The Logical Indian.
Legacy of Shyam Saran Negi
Negi's commitment to democracy earned him recognition as the brand ambassador of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign by the Election Commission of India.
Having cast the first vote in India's maiden general elections in October 1951, Negi recently completed his electoral journey by submitting a postal ballot for Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections on November 2.
In a conversation with IANS, Negi urged voters, especially the younger generation, to dedicate time to electing honest leaders capable of propelling the nation to greater heights. “I am appealing to all the voters, especially the younger generation, to spare time and elect an honest man who can take the country to new heights.”
Honouring Shyam Saran Negi's Contribution to Democracy
Negi's dedication to democracy garnered national acclaim, culminating in receiving the Padma Shri in 2010, one of India's highest civilian honours, for his exceptional commitment to the democratic process, as noted in Wikipedia.
In his own words, "Voting is not just a right, but a sacred duty bestowed upon us by the hard-fought battles of our forefathers." As India writes the next chapter in its democratic saga, let us honour Negi's memory by exercising our right to vote and safeguarding the values he held dear.
Herzindagi.com is Jagran New Media's gender and lifestyle vertical, catering to women of all age groups, helping them remain updated, on-trend and aware. To improve our performance and understand our readers' interests better, we have created this poll. This will take 2 minutes of your time, do help us out with this link.
For more such stories, stay tuned to HerZindagi
Take charge of your wellness journey—download the HerZindagi app for daily updates on fitness, beauty, and a healthy lifestyle!
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation