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OUR CONGRATULATIONS 11 aign won a seat on the Punjab Legislative Council. She was opposed by Dr, Bali, a graduate ladypractitioner of reputation in Lahore; and she secured over 3000 votes, as against Dr. Bali's 1600. She has the unique distinction of being the first ladymember of the Council. In fact her nomination was in the first instance rejected on the ground that a female was not eligible for election, so very novel was the idea of a lady standing up for election to a seat on the Punjab Council. The rejection order was set aside by a Tribunal specially constituted to decide the question.
She sent in about 150 questions, having reference to all the Departments of Government, Finance, Revenue, Local-Self-Government, Education, and Agriculture. Questions by all the other 89 members, taken together amount to as many as by her alone. This shows her infinite industry and wide interest, and her deep concern for the peoples' welfare. And the questions are of vital importance. Her speech in Council on the resolution asking for franchise and representation to women in District Boards and Municipalities was an impassioned and closely-reasoned-out appeal lasting for about 45 minutes, a performance which extorted the admiration of even those stalwarts who opposed her resolution on the ground that women should not descend to the dirty game of politics, and her proper and legitimate sphere was the home. Her crushing contention was that she wanted this right to ennoble and purify politics and not for selfish motives, or through a desire for self-aggrandisement.
