The Silent Women Pradhans

A few months ago, during the Panchayati Raj elections in Uttarakhand, I witnessed something that stayed with me long after the celebrations ended. Watching the election process closely was both interesting and deeply thought-provoking. On paper, it appeared to be a positive sign for gender representation. Many women were contesting for the position of Pradhan (village head), reflecting the intention behind political reservations to increase women’s participation in local governance.

However, when you look a little closer at what is actually happening on the ground, the reality becomes more complicated.

In several villages, the women candidates were rarely visible in public meetings or community discussions. Instead, their husbands often appeared at the forefront. They were the ones posting campaign pictures, engaging with villagers, attending discussions, and presenting themselves as the decision-makers. The women were present, but mostly in silence. During victory celebrations, they were garlanded, congratulated, and photographed. But once the moment passed, they slowly disappeared from the center of the conversation.

I remember attending a small gathering in one of the villages during the election period. People were discussing development plans and the future of the village. The elected woman representative was sitting quietly while most of the conversation was being led by her husband. Every question directed toward the leadership of the village was answered by him. She smiled politely and remained seated beside him, almost like a symbolic presence rather than the elected authority.

That moment stayed with me. It made me realize that representation alone does not guarantee empowerment. Sometimes, it only creates the appearance of progress.

Ironically, in the mountains of Uttarakhand, women are the backbone of everyday life. They manage households, walk long distances to collect water and firewood, work tirelessly in the fields, and sustain families and communities. Yet when it comes to leadership and decision-making in public spaces, their voices are often missing.

This reveals a troubling duality in our society. On one hand, we celebrate women who are breaking barriers and achieving extraordinary success in fields like science, governance, business, and education. On the other hand, at the grassroots level, many women still struggle for the most basic right to express their voice and exercise authority even when they hold official positions.

In many cases, the system of political reservation has ensured that women occupy seats, but it has not always ensured that they exercise power. What often emerges instead is a form of “proxy leadership,” where the husband or another male family member effectively governs in the name of the elected woman.

The experience of observing these elections reminded me that social change is rarely simple. Political reservation has opened the door for women to enter local governance. The real challenge now is ensuring that once they enter, they are able to stand, speak, and lead with confidence. True empowerment will come when elected women are also able to exercise their authority with confidence and independence.