[lbo-talk] World's largest democracy elects 1st female president

[B.]

[I always hear India called the "world's largest
democracy," but I'm assuming it's "democratic" in the
way the US is democratic -- you know, sorta, but not
really when you hold it to the strictest standards.
Anyway the post is apparently mostly ceremonial, piece
says. -B.]

India names first female president

By GAVIN RABINOWITZ, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 16 minutes ago

India elected Pratibha Patil as the country's first
female president Saturday in a vote seen as a victory
for the hundreds of millions of Indian women who
contend with widespread discrimination.

Patil received 65.82 percent of the votes cast by
national lawmakers and state legislators, said
Election Commission head P.D.T. Achary. She had been
widely expected to win.

[...]

The election of a woman to the largely ceremonial post
continues an Indian tradition using the presidency to
bolster disadvantaged communities.

[...]

And her comments ahead of the election calling on
Indian women to abandon wearing headscarves was
roundly denounced by Muslim leaders and by historians
— who disputed her assertion that women only started
wearing them in India to save themselves from 16th
century Muslim invaders.