At 102, she won and lost the polls, but wants to contest the next

Ganesh Nadar meets Thadagati, the 102-year-old woman who contested, won and then lost the panchayat elections in her village

In her 102-year-old life, Thadagati has witnessed British rule, the two world wars, the onset of democracy, the wars with Pakistan and the one with China.
 
She was born in 1909, in a small village in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu. She spent her childhood sans electricity, TV, radio, a school or even proper roads.

She voted for the first time in 1952, when the first elections in independent India were held, at the age of 43. Fifty-nine years later she doesn't remember who she voted for.

Recently, Thadagati votes for 'two leaves' -- the symbol of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam -- the party founded by her beloved matinee idol MGR.

For the first 100 years of her life, Thadagati never contested elections. And then, at the request of panchayat president P Muthuramalingam, she contested as a ward member in the panchayat polls for Pudukulam village in October.

It is not surprising that she won easily as all her 'babies" probably voted for her.
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In her younger days, Thadagati used to work as a midwife. "I have brought a thousand babies into the world in this village," she says proudly.

She still goes to work -- under the Centre's flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Act -- and gets Rs100 per day. She doesn't need much to survive.

Thadagati eats the watery version of a rice meal, as, "That is the only meal I can digest".

She stays with her elder son and his children. She has two sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Thadakati got Rs 101 from Muthuramalingam after her victory.

The next day, she got to know that her victory was considered not valid as her age, mentioned on her nomination form, was wrong.

Thadagati doesn't know anything about the error. She cannot read or write; she had just put her thumb print on the form the panchayat president had filled for her.

Though sad about losing out on a technicality, Thadagati decided not to appeal against the decision.

"The collector himself announced that I had won and now they are changing that," she says.

But we have to laud the spirit of this 102-year-old woman who had wanted to clean up the streets in her ward as an elected representative. And who wishes to contest the next elections.

On a practical note, Thadagati adds, "I may not be around to contest the next elections after five years. But if I am alive, I will certainly contest again".

Image: Thadagati  | Photograph: A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com