Former Speaker Meira Kumar tells ANANYA BORGOHAIN about things that have shaped her vision in life and her future plans
Meira Kumar, five-time Member of Parliament and the first woman Speaker of lok Sabha (2009-2014) recently launched her book Indian Parliamentary Diplomacy — Speaker’s Perspective (published by lok Sabha Secretariat, Rs999). It is a collection of 37 selected speeches she delivered at international conferences and bilateral visits to many countries, underlining the significance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening foreign policy initiatives as well as international relations. Born to prominent leader, the late Babu Jagjivan Ram and freedom fighter Indrani Devi, Kumar was familiarised with intellectual pursuits much early in her life. In an interaction, she reminisces about her childhood, reflects upon her understanding of some of India’s crucial problems, and shares her plans for the future:
What is your earliest memoryIJ
My earliest memory is running in a garden chasing butterflies. Every time I looked back to ensure that my mother is standing in the veranda and I was not left alone in the garden. Chasing butterflies was a happy game that I enjoyed as a child and gardens were one of my favourite places. I don’t think I was very studious but I was introduced to various books at the age of seven or eight. In fact, on my 10th birthday, my father’s gift to me was an almirah filled with books. And he taught me how to make my own library by cutting out numbers from old calendars and sticking them on the books. I am very fond of reading and spend most of my time in the garden. In fact, when I was little, I wanted to be a gardener!
This book is a collection of your speeches in several crucial global diplomatic events and would serve very important purposes to students in particular. So why is this book not available in commercial bookshopsIJ
This book is published by the lok Sabha Secretariat, so it is for lok Sabha to decide really. It’s available at the lok Sabha reception counter and the museum. I had enquired if it is easily accessible and they have ensured me that it is and needs no formalities to be cleared.
You are the first Indian female Speaker of the lok Sabha, and safe motherhood and adequate caretaking of newborns are two of the eight Millennium Development Goals. So as a woman, what are your perceptions about gender Budgeting, about maternal and child healthcare issues in the countryIJ
I delivered a speech on maternal and child health in the sixth meeting of the Women Speakers of Parliament in Bern, Switzerland, in 2010. But before that, let me give you a little background about this speech. You see, it was the first conference where an Indian Speaker had participated, obviously because there had not been a female Speaker until then. I was the first one to do so and then the next year, the seventh conference, was hosted in Delhi.
Gender Budgeting was the main topic in it and I had to make a presentation about how the position was in India and how it could be improved. Also, this was in the context of the Millennium Development Goals and how the developing countries are in need of more finances and resources.
In our country, as far as maternal health is concerned, it needs a great deal of attention. So many of our women live in rural areas and medical assistance is not easily accessible for them. Same applies to women living in small towns or on the periphery of cities as well as the ones who are handicapped. Much has been done in this regard. There are ASHA and Anganwadi workers who try to ensure that childbirth happens in hospitals.
Yet, a great deal of work needs to be done in this direction. You see, there are countries that have suffered imperialism and colonialism and are now in need of resources to carry healthy programmes successfully. Funds should be forthcoming.
One of your speeches selected for this book is on a burning issue — cyberterrorism. We are a young country trying to establish ourselves in the global technological foothold. How do you suggest law enforcers handle this problem, more so for the sake of our young populationIJ
This is the speech I had delivered in the 57th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in london in 2011. It is indeed a severe threat and there are so many rising cases of cyber crime now. Because of the lack of knowledge about the whereabouts of the cyber criminals, it’s all the more dangerous. This anonymity is not only a challenge for our legal agencies, but is a menace for even the most advanced nations.
We have made a number of laws but these laws are being continuously defied also because there has been continuous advancement in technology. It’s getting more sophisticated. The way technology is making life easier, it can also be as destructive. Doing drugs is a crime, so is trafficking, arms dealing, and so on. People are even ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of criminal conspiracies. If such technology falls into their hands, they have so much money that even before it could be available for use to the right people, it is already with them. This is making our society very complex.
You also mention that India’s geographical position between the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent makes it vulnerable to drug trafficking and organised crime. Please elaborate a little.
I remember this speech vividly because this was my first after becoming the Speaker. It was in Rome on September 12-13, 2009, in the meeting of the Speakers of the lower Houses of G-8 and G-5 Outreach Countries. I was particularly looking forward to meeting Nancy Pelosi, who was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and also because the subject matter was so challenging and relevant.
So many youths, regardless of what strata of society they come from, or whether they are educated or not, financially affluent or not, are somehow getting mired in this terrible addiction — drugs. I get concerned because they are otherwise talented and bright and we should do something for them.
I was the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment from 2004-2009, in charge of drug use, and we have a number of laws in our country to tackle this issue. We are placed between the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle, and the trade of illegal use of drugs utilises India as a passage, a corridor. We need to erase that through the laws we have. But laws would be helpless if society does not reflect the inclination to change.
Through the campaign ‘Say No’, we were trying to educate the masses, college youths, particularly children in school, as drug smugglers entice schoolchildren to get their products sold. You cannot eradicate evil, but you should have the judgement and willpower to say no.
Do you have any striking memory about handling the hustle and bustle in the lok Sabha sessionsIJ
I tried to reach out to them and know more about them. I would invite them to my chamber, talk to them. One could watch what was happening on camera but a lot of work went off the camera. I had tried to find out what kind of food they liked and realised that rasgullas were a common favourite. I thought serving them their beloved sweet would calm them down until I once heard someone say, “Madam takes sweet revenge!”
Do you cultivate any hobbyIJ
I like to paint and listen to music. I like to read and indulge in gardening. In fact, I want to use this time to visit every district of the country. I have visited a number of them but there are more than 600 in the country and I want to visit them all. I want to meet and connect with the people there and listen to their problems. I think if I am a public figure then how do I justify being in a public life if I have not met the public of the countryIJ
Have you ever thought of what you would say to themIJ
I would like them to talk to me instead. I have been to areas which are highly underdeveloped, but whenever I have met the people there, they would never complain and would smile humbly. They are so full of life and contended. I find some areas developing but will soon have a delegation complaining about them. So there can be different perceptions and experiences, which is why I want to personally visit the people and talk to them.
lastly, what are your comments on your successor, our second woman Speaker, Sumitra MahajanIJ
I think it would be unfair to comment. I think she is a veteran in politics and has a vast experience. I have known her for a long time and she is doing a very good job.
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