India's 1st woman Prez. advises women to learn Karate

[ensho]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JH23Df02.html


Low-profile president stirs India


A year after creating political history by becoming India's first woman president, Pratibha Devisingh Patil's tenure in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which with five acres (two hectares)of gardens and 340 rooms is arguably the world's largest presidential palace, has been largely quiet, with a sage, hands-off approach helping her to coast past political melees unscathed.

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Ironically, this serenity is not quite how the 73-year-old lawyer-turned-politician's campaign and nomination could be characterized. Both were initially fraught with controversy and generated some highly unsavory media attention. Her husband's name linked to a suicide scandal, allegations of her siphoning off millions of rupees from her charitable trust, and her alleged shielding of a brother accused of murder, all did nothing to add luster to her stature as a presidential nominee.

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Although she has avoided the political spotlight, Patil has not flinched from voicing her opinion on a slew of sensitive social issues. For instance, in the wake of spiraling crimes like rape and molestation against Indian women, the president has emphasized the need for women's security at work places and insisted on strict penalties against sexual harassment. She insists women should work "for their own empowerment by learning self-defense techniques like judo and karate to build their self-confidence to face life's challenges".

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Regardless of such incidents, there's no denying that India's first woman president has whipped up immense curiosity among the masses. According to sources at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the president's official website has emerged as the second most popular portal in the country, receiving more than 43,000 readers daily and welcoming some 1.4 million visitors since it was designed a few months ago.
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while we are waiting: an interesting look at India's first women President.

[billyoc]

1. Good excercise even if you never have to kick anybody's ass.

Like mine. :scared: