Shyam Saran Negi, the man dubbed “India’s first voter” has died at the age of 105.
He is thought to have been the first person to cast a vote when India held its first general election in 1951 after gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
The Indian Express reports, during India’s first general election, polling in Negi’s Kinnaur district was held several months before the rest of the country due to geographical reasons.
Negi, then 34 years old, cast his ballot and became the first voter in independent India.
Born on July 1, 1917, Negi claimed he voted in every parliamentary, Assembly and panchayat election.
The retired teacher died of natural causes on Saturday (Nov 5), three days after voting for the 34th time through postal ballot in the Himachal Pradesh’s Assembly polls.
“Youth should come forward to participate in the democratic process as it is not only our right but also our duty to participate in the elections by exercising our franchise,” Negi was quoted as saying by local media.
Officials say he will be cremated with full state honours.
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