A forgotten trailblazer, the late Pramila Dandavate, an MP from Mumbai, was a fierce advocate for women's rights and a key figure behind the Women’s Reservation Bill that inspired today’s Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

In the early 1980s, Pramila first introduced a private member's bill demanding 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies during the VP Singh government, a revolutionary idea that took over two decades to take shape.

By 1989, she called for increased representation of women in legislative bodies, urging leaders to bring women into positions of power to transform Indian politics.

“During the 1987 elections in Karnataka, 18,000 women were elected to the various local government bodies after the JD-led government introduced 25 percent reservation for women in the panchayats. Women proved to be better representatives than men,” Pramila had said.

Pramila joined hands with leaders like Margaret Alva and Geeta Mukherjee to draft the National Perspective Plan for Women, travelling across India, gaining support from local communities.

They eventually formed the ‘Seven Sisters’, where seven major national organisations of women came together and started campaigning for it.

Pramila’s vision inspired over a million women to join local governments across India, proving that women could lead, govern, and excel at every level.

"Women are creators, not destroyers," Pramila once said, explaining how women bring a fresh, constructive approach to Indian politics.

Despite challenges, Pramila pushed for the Bill year after year alongside powerful allies like Meira Kumar and Sushma Swaraj. Together, they kept the spirit of the Bill alive through multiple government changes.

Through her efforts, Pramila also supported amendments to the Anti-Dowry and Sati Prevention acts to protect and empower women across India.

Though Pramila passed away in 2001, her legacy lives on, and the Women’s Reservation Bill honours her relentless efforts. Her dream may only fully be realised in 2029, but her influence is already transforming India.

The Bill is now law, and with it, Pramila's vision for a more representative Parliament is closer to reality for over 46 crore female voters in the coming years.