India, Sept. 28 -- It was the early 1950s. India, a young nation, was preparing for its first general election. The Constitution had given every adult the right to vote, regardless of gender, caste, wealth or education.

There was, however, one rule that Sukumar Sen, India's first Chief Election Commissioner, was unwilling to compromise on: a woman had to be registered in her own name.

Around 28 lakh women were left out of the electoral rolls for the first general election in 1951-52.

When officials began preparing the electoral rolls, they came across a problem in parts of northern India. Some women did not want to give their names.

In many regions, social customs forbade women from speaking their own names to strangers. When official...