India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi passes away

Independent India's first voter, Shri Shyam Saran Negi has passed away. He was a 106-year-old at the time and had recently cast his vote on November 2 in the 14th Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh. Negi died at his native place in Himachal Pradesh's Kalpa on the 5th of November.

Currently, Himachal Pradesh has more elderly voters. Over 1,22,093 are voters who are above the age of 80 and these people are an inspiration for others. They are very active and extremely particular about casting their vote in national and state elections year after year even if it is via the postal ballot. These elderly voters exercising their vote have set an example for the youth in the state.

Negi was also independent India’s first-ever voter for elections held on October 25, 1951, in Kinnaur. In 1951, Negi was a member of the polling team and very well remembers that he had to travel a lot in order to make elections happen in certain areas.

The country’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had also lauded 106-year-old Shyam Saran Negi for exercising his right to vote for the 34th time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “this is commendable and should serve as an inspiration for the younger voters to take part in the elections and strengthen our democracy”. Negi has never missed a single election, and in 2010, the Election Commission of India made Negi the brand ambassador for promoting voting in India.

Recently, during the election, Negi was all set ready to go to the polling and cast his vote, but his health did not allow this, so the election commission arranged the voting for him at his house. He voted via the postal ballot. Traditional music and instruments were played for him and a red carpet welcome was also done. Negi’s son also said that his father is an inspiration to him as well as other people in the village, and he will continue this legacy of casting votes like his father.