4 min readNew DelhiApr 16, 2026 01:44 AM IST
WITH PARLIAMENT set to convene the three-day special sitting to discuss the Women’s Reservation Bill, which, if implemented, would introduce a 33 per cent quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies from the 2029 general elections, the Union Ministry of Culture is learnt to have invited over 100 eminent women artistes to witness the debate.
The invitation has been extended “only to leading female artistes of the country, including recipients of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma honours and other reputed artistes” for April 16 “to pass women’s quota Bills”, according to the invite.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Shekhawat told The Indian Express that the ministry was approached by several artistes who wanted to witness this historic moment. “We asked our officials to collate a list and have now sent it to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The Ministry and the Parliament secretariat will take a call as per their procedure and allow people accordingly,” he said.
The ministry had invited eminent women from across fields to Vigyan Bhawan a couple of days ago for the Prime Minister’s address ahead of the special Parliament session. Shekhawat said that after the address, many from the art community had written to them expressing disappointment at not being able to participate in the event. Many of them will now be able to witness the special session of Parliament.
Delhi-based leading Kathak exponent Shovana Narayan, who is among the invitees, said, “Since the ’50s, every government has been working on things… from legal empowerment and social protection to economic empowerment to now decision making. They are saying 33 per cent, let’s see if we can achieve that in actual practice. Every step is a good step and I am hopeful.”
Some artistes who were invited said it was difficult to attend the debate at such short notice. Delhi-based Odissi dancer Ranjana Gauhar and Bharatanatyam exponent Geeta Chandran, who were invited, said that they would be unable to attend due to prior engagements. Gauhar called the Bill a “welcome” and “inclusive” step.
Bengaluru-based veena exponent Jayanthi Kumaresh, who has been awarded this year’s prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi, was given a day’s notice to come to Delhi. She said she was happy to be a part of the momentous occasion but hoped that the spirit of the Bill would really percolate to every level of society and “not just be a number on paper”. “People with influence, without influence, educated and uneducated, privileged and less privileged – I hope everybody gets the opportunity to avail this benefit,” said Kumaresh.
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Folk singer Malini Awasthi said that the Bill could be a “game-changer”. “When women were given rights in Panchayati Raj institutions… and you remember in the beginning how it was that the husbands were taking over. But it changed and how… Now, when you see the village woman empowered, it is ironic that educated women and those equally responsible for contributing to nation-building in so many ways…. do not have greater participation. It was high time that this Bill came in. It is a great reason to celebrate,” said Awasthi, who added that she hoped there would be consensus on the Bill on Thursday. “PM Modi’s schemes have always tried to empower women…,” she said.
