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Parvati Devi (Ladakh politician)

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Indian Queen mother of Ladakh and politician (1934–2024)

Rani Parvati Devi Deskit Wangmo (1 May 1934 – 5 November 2024) was an Indian royal and politician who was the Queen mother of Ladakh. She served as a member of the 6th Lok Sabha from 1977 to 1980.

Early life

Parvati was born on 1 May 1934 at the Khangsar Palace into the Royal House of Khangsar, the greatest royal house of Lahaul, presently part of Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh to Nyima Wangyal. She received education up to fifth standard.

Career

Parvati Devi was known for her social work in Ladakh. In 1958 she became the Convener of Welfare Extension Project, Leh's Implementing Committee.

For the 1977 Indian general election, the Indian National Congress (INC) made Devi its candidate for Ladakh constituency and its local coalition partner Jammu & Kashmir National Conference supported her. Only an independent candidate stood against her and she defeated him by a margin of 2,877 votes (polling 23,130 against his 20,253) to become the first woman MP from Ladakh. Devi and Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah were the only Jammu & Kashmir women to win the 1977 election. The house couldn't complete its term of five years and in 1980 another election was held. This time National Conference fielded its candidate from Ladakh.

She was the founder and president of Namgyal Institute of Research on Ladakhi Art and Culture (NIRLAC).

Personal life and death

Parvati married the titular king of Ladakh, Kunzang Namgyal on 10 July 1950, who turned out to be an alcoholic and died at the age of 48, leaving behind Devi and their four children (two sons and two daughters). As per local traditions she was supposed to marry the deceased king's brother. Instead she excluded her brother-in-law from the family and arranged a monthly allowance for him. He took the matter to the court and eventually, in an out-of-court settlement, gained possession of a part of the family property.

She resided at the Stok Palace. During winters, she used to sojourn in Manali.

Parvati died on 5 November 2024, at the age of 90.

References

  1. ^ Daniel, Vaihayasi P (3 April 1997). "Postcards from the edge, 2: Ladakh, the last Shangri-la". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Member's Bioprofile: Parvati Devi, Shrimati". Lok Sabha. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  3. "Welfare Extension Project, Leh". Social Welfare. Central Social Welfare Board: 20. 1958.
  4. Baṭ, S̲anāʼullāh (1981). Kashmir in Flames: An Untold Story of Kashmirʾs Political Affairs. Ali Mohammad. p. 219.
  5. "Statistical Report on the General Elections, 1977 to the Sixth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 162. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  6. Chumikchan, Rinchen Angmo (6 December 2016). "Why are women denied justice even today in Ladakh?". Reach Ladakh. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  7. Sharma, S.P. (8 May 2004). "Few women fielded in J-K". The Tribune. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  8. "Statistical Report on the General Elections, 1980 to the Seventh Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 159. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  9. Seminar. R. Thapar. 2004. p. 15.
  10. "Contact Us – NIRLAC Ladakh". Namgyal Institute of Research on Ladakhi Art and Culture. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  11. Nath, Rajendra (2016). Strategic Ladakh: A Historical Narrative 1951-53 and a Military Perspective. Vij Books India. p. 64. ISBN 978-93-85563-50-8.
  12. Finegan, Jack (1986). Tibet, a dreamt of image. Tibet House. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-85226-276-4.
  13. "Gyalmo Deskit Wangmo, Queen of Ladakh, passes away at 90". Reachladakh. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
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