GFA leader cheers election of first Dalit woman Speaker of Lok Sabha

Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan expressed hope after Meira Kumar, a Dalit, was unanimously elected as the first woman Speaker of Lok Sabha.

"This is a huge event for India for two reasons," Yohannan explained. "Traditionally, the most neglected people in the world are women, and the women who are treated the absolute worst are Dalit women.

"Now the most despised people in the most abused people group have a voice in one of the world's largest government bodies--the Indian Parliament."

The elevation of Meira Kumar to one of the top constitutional posts was hailed as a "truly historic" moment by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Meira is from one of the poorest states in India, Bihar. Previously, she was India's Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2004 until her recent re-election to the Lok Sabha. She is a lawyer and a former diplomat.

Kumar is the daughter of Babu Jagjivan Ram, a well-known Dalit leader who also served as India's deputy prime minister. Her husband, Manjul, is a well-known lawyer.

"She is already a great political force, yet it is still amazing that a Dalit woman was elected to this powerful position," Yohannan said. "Now she holds great power, so when the issues involving human rights or the downtrodden people groups come up, she will be the one to decide if the issue will be heard.

"We will be praying for her as she makes decisions that have the power to radically transform the lives of the millions of Dalits in India."