<p>NEW DELHI (AP) - India chose its first female president Saturday in an election hailed as a victory for women in a country where gender discrimination is deep-rooted and widespread.</p>
<p>Still, it’s not clear how much 72-year-old Pratibha Patil - a lawyer, congresswoman and former governor of the northern state of Rajasthan - can or will do in the mostly ceremonial post to improve the lives of her countrywomen.</p>
<p>Patil, who is married and has two children, will be sworn in as India’s 13th president on July 25. She replaces the popular A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who has ended his five-year term and following custom did not seek a second term.</p>
<p>The election of a woman to the post continues an Indian tradition of using the presidency to give a high-profile voice to disadvantaged communities.</p>
<p>India has had three Muslim presidents, including Kalam, since winning independence from Britain in 1947. It has also had a president from the minority Sikh community. Kalam’s predecessor, K.R. Narayanan, came from the bottom of the society’s complex social hierarchy.</p>
<p>It’s not really such a big deal. President in India is like being Queen of England, not like being the President of the US. It was far more notable that Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister for 11 years. (Gandhi was a woman, and was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. Gandhi was not related to Mohandas Gandhi, although he was a political ally of Nehru’s.)</p>
<p>Even it being the President of India is not equivalent to being President of the USA or France, it is still a noteworthy step for India. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, the fact that it is noteworthy is an example of slow the progress for women truly is. Let’s hope that some day the gender issue will no longer be important. This said, that does not stop the United States to elevate presidential candidates to front runners on the sole basis of gender and family surnames, and this without much concern for qualifications and integrity. </p>
<p>And, fwiw, I’d have to believe that the title of Hillary, Queen of the United States must appeal to the nice lady’s constituency. :D</p>
<p>In 1966, India elected a woman to be their real head of government and she served for 11 years. Electing another woman to a largely ceremonial job is no big deal compared to that amazing event 40 years ago. In my opinion, anyway.</p>