Why there are no women on India’s currency notes? That’s a question being posed by a Change.org campaign launched by a school science teacher based in Kolkata. Following in the footsteps of United States, Indians across the country are petitioning to put an Indian woman on their currency. Born on Twitter a week ago and also publicised via a blog and the online petition, the campaign is also asking people to vote for which woman they would like to see on a Rs 100 note.

Poonam Singh says her campaign was inspired by a similar one in the US earlier this year. “Some might ask what difference it will make having a woman on a hundred-rupee note. But it goes beyond symbolism,” she says. “It is something that might inspire a little girl who sees that note to imagine a brighter future for herself and for India’s women.”

10 Countries Already have Women on their Currency Notes:

Last month, US decided to feature a woman on its $10 bill in 2020 — the 100th anniversary of the Constitution’s 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. A decision on who that woman will be is yet to be made.

These 10 countries already have Women on their currency notes: Syria, Philippines, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina, New Zealand, Israel, Sweden, Australian and England.

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• Argentina: Former first lady and suffragette Eva Peron appears on the current 100 peso bill.
• New Zealand: Besides Queen Elizabeth II on the 20 dollar bill, New Zealand’s 10 dollar bill bears the image of suffragette Kate Sheppard.
• England: Every note has Queen Elizabeth II on it; in the past, bills have also featured nurse Florence Nightingale and social reformer Elizabeth Fry. A new 10 pound note will feature author Jane Austen.
• Israel: Images of two women Israeli writers will be used on currency from this year, poet Rachel Bluwstein and author Leah Goldberg.

Petition for an Indian Woman’s image on Banknotes:

“They have been contributors in every field, playing leading, formative roles in many walks of life. They have been equal participants, contributors, leaders and organisers of the struggle for Indian Independence at the grassroots,” says the petition, which was started by Poonam Singh, last month.

The petition, addressed to the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister, and the Governor of the RBI, had received 356 signatures on Thursday afternoon. Its target is 500.

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In a separate post, the petitioner also suggests possible candidates: Aruna Asaf Ali, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Pandita Ramabai, Cornelia Sorabji, Bhikaji Cama and Savitribai Phule. All of these names are great choices. But there are many, many other worthy candidates, including the queen of Jhansi, Sarojini Naidu, Mother Teresa and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.

Vote for the Indian woman you want to see on currency notes.

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