Krishna Kumari Kolhi

Krishna Kumari Kohli, popularly known as Kishoo Bai, is a Pakistani politician serving as a member of the Senate of Pakistan. Since March 2018, she has represented the Sindh province on a reserved seat for women. She stands as the second Hindu woman to occupy this legislative position.

Early life and education

Kolhi was born on 1 February 1979 to a poor Koli family in a village located in Nagarparkar. Her childhood was marked by extreme hardship when she was a grade three student. During this period, she and her family were held captive for 3 years as bonded labourers. This captivity occurred in a private jail that was allegedly owned by a landlord in the Umerkot District. They only gained their freedom after a police raid took place on the employer's land.

She began her early schooling within the Umerkot district before moving to the Mirpurkhas District for further studies. In 2007, she participated in the third Mehergarh Human Rights Youth Leadership Training Camp held in Islamabad. This program provided instruction on the government of Pakistan and international migration. She also studied strategic planning and various tools used to create social change.

Kolhi eventually earned a master's degree in sociology from the University of Sindh in 2013.

Career

She initially joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as a social activist. Her primary focus involved campaigning for the rights of marginalised communities residing in the Thar region. She continues to advocate for women's rights and campaigns against sexual harassment in the workplace. Her activism also targets the eradication of bonded labour.

In 2018, she ran as a PPP candidate during the Pakistan Senate elections. She secured a reserved seat for women from Sindh and took her official oath on 12 March 2018. This achievement made her the second Hindu woman elected to the Senate after Ratna Bhagwandas Chawla.

Political tensions arose following the 2020 Karak temple attack. A new piece of legislation titled "Protection of the Rights of Religious Minorities Bill" was introduced in the Senate to prevent similar attacks on minority worship places. However, the Senate Standing Committee turned down this bill. The committee was headed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI-F) senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. Kolhi walked out of the Senate during the meeting as a form of protest.

Personal life

Kolhi married at the age of 16 in 1994. At the time of her marriage, she was still studying in grade nine. She managed to continue her educational pursuits even after her wedding.

Awards and recognition

The BBC named her one of its 100 most influential women in 2018. This recognition highlighted her work as a political figure and activist.