KUALA LUMPUR: Meet J. Usha Nandhini, the person charged by the MIC with bringing young Indian women into politics.

The Puteri MIC head has been blazing a trail in this direction since assuming office four years ago.

It has been a rough ride for the lawyer but hard work and determination have yielded results.

"We had nearly 1000 members when we started. Now, we have more than 8,000, half of them graduates and professionals," said Usha who joined the party at 18.

An obstacle in attracting members stems from the fact that politics is often a dirty word in most traditional households.
"In some rural areas, older brothers or fathers wait outside the fence and watch us talk to their womenfolk. Some of the girls said their families objected to them leaving their homes to campaign or to attend conventions.

"The cultural perception that young Indian women should not leave their homes is prevalent in some places and is a barrier in getting them to work with us."

The answer? Get their mothers involved.

"Once the mothers come to know of the activities we do, they realise politics is not a bad thing after all. Many times, these mothers and young girls thank us for coming to their place and organising activities for them. They said their lives were dull as nothing went on after 8pm."

Usha, also a member of the MIC Education Committee and Constitutional Committee, said her interest in politics was because of her mother, R. Alameloo, and MIC chief Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Alameloo, the Kampung Pandan branch Wanita leader, instilled the love of politics in her.

"A lot of political activities happened in our house. It was like a mini MIC headquarters then," said Usha, who has been lecturing law at a private college here for the past seven years.

Usha is peeved by the fact that Puteri MIC is not taken seriously.

"People, even some men in the party, often see us as little girls dressed in pink sarees. Sometimes, the most the girls are asked to do is carry garlands at functions.

"I tell my girls that it is okay to carry garlands or coffee but it should not be their primary role. Their job is not to just look pretty."

On the wing’s relevance to the party, she said it was to fulfil Samy Vellu’s vision of bringing young graduates and professionals into the party.

She said a major project was the legal exchange awareness programme which is running into its second year.

"The lawyers in Puteri visit rural areas, giving free legal advice, including on wills. Our women experience abuse by husbands, domestic violence and divorce."

Her advice to young women?

"Never compromise your tradition, culture and values. These are the only things that separate you from others. "

Usha, who has a classical music and dance background, said her grandfather conducted thevaram (religious) classes while her aunts played the veenai.

She said her mother was her mentor and critic while her guru in politics was Samy Vellu.

Perhaps the hardest moment in her life came three years ago when her husband, K. Madhavan Nair, died of a heart attack at 38.

"It was a big blow to me for he was such a supportive husband.

"Three weeks after he died, the general election was held. Most of the meetings and discussions were held in my house as I could not leave the house then."