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Today marks an important day in Indian parliamentary history. Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office and secrecy to 19 newly elected and re-elected members of the House. The most special face of this swearing-in ceremony was the famous constitutional lawyer Dr. Maneka Guruswamy. Guruswamy, who was sworn in as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from West Bengal, is the first MP in the country to publicly share her identity as a queer (LGBTQ+). His reaching Parliament will further strengthen the voice of constitutional values.

Who is Dr. Maneka Guruswamy?

The arrival of 51-year-old Dr. Maneka Guruswamy in Rajya Sabha is being considered very important at both social and political levels. Educated from the world’s prestigious institutions like Oxford and Harvard, Guruswamy is known for his historic legal victory in 2018, which changed the lives of millions of LGBTQ+ people in the country. He fought a long and difficult legal battle against Section 377 in the Supreme Court. The result of this fight was that the country’s Supreme Court had decriminalized homosexuality, which was considered a repressive trend dating back to the British era. This judgment proved to be a milestone in the history of Indian judiciary, strengthening the right to individual liberty and equality. Trinamool Congress (TMC) has sent Dr. Guruswamy to the Upper House as part of its visionary strategy. The party’s clear objective is that Guruswamy should make the voice of constitutional values ​​and civil rights more powerful in Parliament, especially for marginalized communities. After taking the oath, Dr. Guruswami reiterated his commitment. She clearly said that she will strongly pursue the values ​​of equality and non-discrimination of the Constitution and ensure that all citizens get respect and rights.

Dr. Guruswamy’s presence in Parliament is not just a personal achievement for him, but holds a deep symbolic significance for the entire LGBTQ+ community and Indian constitutional democracy. This incident shows that India’s political landscape is gradually becoming more inclusive and diverse. In a country where prejudice and misconceptions still exist in a large section of the society regarding LGBTQ+ rights, it is a revolutionary step to have a public queer person sitting in Parliament to make laws, debate policies and express his views on issues of national importance. Their presence will pave the way for more sensitive, informed and equitable discussions on issues to gender and sexual minorities in Parliament. It will give hope and inspiration to millions of people who are struggling for their identity and looking for acceptance, respect and equality in the society. It is also a testament to the growing maturity of Indian democracy, which provides opportunities for representation to people from diverse backgrounds and identities.

A total of 19 members took oath during this important ceremony. These members included many veteran faces of politics, while there were also some new and young representatives. The occasion of swearing-in reflects the diversity of Indian democracy, where experienced leaders and first-time Parliamentarians come together to take the oath to serve the nation. Chairman CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath to all the members one by one. All the members pledged their allegiance to the Indian Constitution and to maintain the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

These 19 members took oath

These 19 members who took oath included experienced politicians like Ramdas Bandhu Athawale, Maya Chintaman Ivanate, Sharadchandra Pawar. Along with these, Ramrao Sakharam Vadakute, Dr. Jyoti Nagnath Waghmare, Christopher Manickam, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Constantine Raveendran, LK Sudheesh, Dr. M Thambidurai and Tiruchi Siva also took oath. Prominent among the new faces were Babul Supriyo, Dr. Maneka Guruswamy, Rajeev Kumar, Rukmini Malik (Koel Malik), Biswajit Sinha, Satrant Mishra, Dilip Kumar Ray and Manmohan Samal. All of them started their new innings as Rajya Sabha members.

Glimpse of ‘unity in diversity’ seen in swearing in ceremony

A clear glimpse of India’s ‘unity in diversity’ was seen in today’s swearing-in ceremony. Of the 19 members who took oath, 6 took oath in Tamil language, which reflects the rich linguistic heritage of South India. Apart from this, 4 members administered their oath in Bengali, 3 members in Marathi and 3 members in Odia. 2 members took oath in Hindi and 1 member in English, which provides a shining example of the linguistic diversity of the country. This time, if we talk about regional representation in the Rajya Sabha, 6 members have been elected from Tamil Nadu, 5 from Maharashtra, 5 from West Bengal and 3 from Odisha have reached the Upper House. This is an important aspect of regional balance and bringing the voices of different states into the Parliament.

Many important personalities were present on this occasion. Union ministers like Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram were present at the function. Apart from these, Rajya Sabha General Secretary PC Modi and other senior officials of the Secretariat also witnessed this proud moment. His presence further added to the dignity of the ceremony. This day witnessed the inclusive character of Indian democracy and the changing picture of Parliament.