Seeds of equality are bearing fruit

Newly elected BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) corporators at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters. File pic/Ashish Raje

Mumbai is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation, setting new benchmarks in civic leadership. At the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), key levers of power are now in women's hands. The mayor and leader of the Opposition's posts are held by women, while crucial committees, such as BEST, Education and Improvement, are led by them.

In a civic body long perceived as a male-dominated arena, this is more than routine reshuffling. It signals a meaningful shift in the city's governance landscape.

Urban administration is neither symbolic nor ceremonial. These are not "soft" responsibilities. They are complex, high-stakes portfolios that demand administrative skill, political negotiation, and fiscal discipline. Managing transport networks that carry millions, overseeing public health systems in one of the world's densest cities, planning housing in a space-starved metropolis, and preparing for climate-related challenges that define coastal life - these are decisions that shape the daily lives of citizens.

This moment becomes even more significant when viewed against the recent past. A decade or two ago, Maharashtra's corridors of power told a different story. Women officers, even when they were among the most senior and fully qualified, often found themselves edged out when the state's top posts were being decided. When Mumbai's police commissioner was to be appointed, or when the position of chief secretary came up for discussion, the final nod routinely went to male IPS and IAS officers. There was no formal rule barring women. No policy explicitly denied them the opportunity.

Yet the outcome was predictable. The glass ceiling was invisible, but firmly intact.

This was despite India having already seen a woman rise to its highest political office. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had once reminded the nation that in India, the symbol of strength is a woman, the goddess Shakti. Yet for years, women were celebrated in theory while power structures hesitated to entrust them with the most influential roles in practice.

But the struggle for equality in Maharashtra did not begin in government offices. It began much earlier, on dusty streets, outside closed doors, and inside a small classroom in 1848. That was the year Savitribai Phule opened India's first school for girls in Maharashtra. At a time when most girls were not even allowed to step out of their homes freely, this was not merely an educational initiative. It was an act of defiance.

The classroom she started may have been small in size, but the change it sparked was enormous. That quiet beginning continues to shape Maharashtra and India to this day.

That legacy of reform carried forward across generations. Ramabai Ambedkar stood alongside Dr BR Ambedkar during the years of social upheaval and constitutional change. Mahadev Govind Ranade and Ramabai Ranade worked to promote women's education and dignity when such ideas were considered radical. They were not campaigning for posts or positions; they were reshaping social attitudes. They understood that equality was not a favour to be granted, but a right to be recognised.

Today, that belief is increasingly visible in positions of authority. In recent years, Maharashtra has seen women occupy some of the state's most powerful administrative posts, including deputy chief minister, chief secretary (CS) and director general of police (DGP). These are not ceremonial roles. They influence governance, law enforcement and public policy at the highest levels.

There was a time when daughters were encouraged to study hard so they could secure stable employment. Few were told they could run cities, shape budgets or command police forces. That mindset now feels outdated. Across Mumbai and Maharashtra, women are not merely participating in governance; they are directing it.

Yet the broader national picture remains uneven. Women continue to be underrepresented in legislative bodies across India. Progress at the civic level, therefore, should not invite complacency. It should serve as a foundation.

Mumbai has often set the tone for wider change. Its experiments in finance, infrastructure and urban reform frequently ripple beyond the city's boundaries. If its civic leadership can demonstrate that competence and authority are unrelated to gender, that message may resonate far beyond municipal walls.

This transformation may not resemble a dramatic revolution. There are no slogans announcing a new order. But from a woman once attacked for educating girls to women steering some of the state's most powerful institutions, the arc of change is unmistakable.

The seeds of equality planted generations ago are bearing visible fruit. This moment may not mark the end of a struggle, but it does suggest the beginning of a more balanced chapter in Maharashtra's and India's political story.

Sanjeev Shivadekar is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @SanjeevShivadek

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