Independent India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi passed away at the age of 106 early Saturday morning. Negi had cast his final vote through postal ballot for the state’s assembly polls, according to the Election Commission.
Born on July 1, 1917, Negi worked as a schoolteacher in Kalpa. When India held its first general elections in 1951 after the end of British rule in 1947, Negi was the first one to cast his vote on October 25. Although most of the polling for that first election took place in February 1952, Himachal went to the polls five months early as the weather there tends to be inclement in February and March and heavy snowfall during that period would have made it impossible for citizens to reach the polling stations.
Shyam Saran Negi also made a special appearance in the Hindi film Sanam Re.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to Negi and said that he will inspire every citizen of the country, especially the youth to perform their duty of casting vote in the elections.
