Lagatar24 Desk
Kinnaur, Nov 5: Days after casting his final vote in the state’s 14th Assembly elections, the 106-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, who served as independent India’s first voter, passed away today in his hometown of Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh.
Negi was the first voter in the independent nation when he cast his vote on October 23, 1951, at the Kalpa voting station. On November 2, this year, he cast his 34th and final ballot, an accomplishment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised.
Not just first voter of Independent India,but a man with exceptional faith in #democracy.
ECI mourns the demise of Shri Shyam Saran Negi. We are eternally grateful for his service to the Nation. https://t.co/IdmJFXXhFf
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) November 5, 2022
Negi’s death was mourned by Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, who said that it “will always be emotional” to remember the nation’s first voter casting his final ballot.
“Saddened to hear the news of the demise of Shyam Saran Negi ji, the first voter of independent India and who belonged to Kinnaur. While performing his duty, he cast his postal vote for the assembly elections for the 34th time on November 2, this memory will always be emotional,” Thakur tweeted.
“May God bless his virtuous soul at his feet and give strength to the bereaved family members,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Kinnaur Amandeep Garg said that Mr Negi will be cremated with full state honour.
Chief Electoral Officer, Maneesh Garg in a statement said that Negi “motivated generations of voters for exercising their right to franchise for strengthening the democratic set up. Such was his commitment that he voted till the last breath of his life as he had cast his vote through postal ballot on 2nd November, at his home in Kalpa.”
“Negi was a noble human being and I pray to the almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members to bear the irreparable loss. He will be cremated with full state honours today,” the statement added.
Negi, also known as Master Shyam, cast his ballot in the general elections held in India in January and February 1952, becoming the nation’s first voter in the democracy. In Himachal Pradesh, elections were held in the month of October 1951 while taking weather and snowfall into consideration. Since 1951, Negi has participated in every election for the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and local bodies.
Negi had been a great symbol since 2014. He was born in the Himachal Pradesh tribal district of Kinnaur in July 1917. In the Lok Sabha elections, he had cast 16 votes.
A teacher by profession, the centenarian had cast a vote in every election since 1951.
The 106-year-old urged the nation’s citizens to utilise their right to vote on the day he cast his final ballot in order to support the democratic system. He said that we should be proud of our right to vote because it aids in selecting the best representative to govern the country, saying that young voters “should consider their duty to vote and contribute to strengthening the nation.”
