Meira Kumar
Encyclopedia
Meira Kumar is an India
n politician and a five time Member of Parliament
. She was elected unopposed as the first woman Speaker
of Lok Sabha
on 3 June 2009.
She is a lawyer and a former diplomat. Prior to being a member of the 15th Lok Sabha
, she has been elected earlier to the 8th
, 11th
, 12th
and 14th Lok Sabha
, wherein she remained Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (2004–2009).
and prominent dalit
leader, Babu Jagjivan Ram and freedom fighter, Indrani Devi.
She is an Ex-Banasthali student.
She did her M.A., LL.B, Educated at Indraprastha College and Miranda House
, Delhi University.
and served at embassies in Spain
, United Kingdom
and Mauritius
. She also served as a member of the India-Mauritius Joint Commission. While serving for IFS, she also worked in Embassy of India, Madrid from 1976 to 1977. She was at the High Commission of India in London from 1977 to 1979 and at Ministry of External Affairs
from 1980 to 1985.
in Uttar Pradesh defeating political heavyweights like Ram Vilas Paswan
and Mayawati
, two powerful dalit leaders. She was a member of the eighth
, eleventh and twelfth Lok Sabha
's from Karol Bagh
in Delhi. She lost her seat in the BJP wave of 1999, but was able to get re-elected with a record majority from her father's former constituency of Sasaram
in Bihar in 2004 and 2009.
She served in the Congress-led Government as the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2004 to 2009. In 2009 she was briefly inducted as member of the cabinet as Union Minister for Water Resources. On being nominated for the position of speaker, she submitted her resignation three days after assuming ministerial office. She was elected the Speaker of Lok Sabha, thereby becoming the first woman speaker of the country.
She is a keen sportswoman and holds medals for rifle shooting. She is also a published poet.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician and a five time Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. She was elected unopposed as the first woman Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
on 3 June 2009.
She is a lawyer and a former diplomat. Prior to being a member of the 15th Lok Sabha
15th Lok Sabha
Members of the 15th Lok Sabha were elected in 2009 during the General Elections in India.- Important members :* Speaker: Meira Kumar, Indian National Congress, Sasaram, Bihar...
, she has been elected earlier to the 8th
8th Lok Sabha
List of Members of the 8th Lok Sabha, elected December 1984. The Lok Sabha is the lower house in the Parliament of India.- Important members :* Speaker:...
, 11th
11th Lok Sabha
List of Members of the 11th Lok Sabha, elected during Indian general election, 1996 held during April-May 1996. The Lok Sabha is the lower house in the Parliament of India.-Important members:* Speaker:...
, 12th
12th Lok Sabha
List of Members of the 12th Lok Sabha, after Indian general election, 1998 held during February-March 1998. The Lok Sabha is the lower house in the Parliament of India.- Important members :* Speaker:...
and 14th Lok Sabha
14th Lok Sabha
The 14th Lok Sabha was convened after the Indian general election, 2004 held in four phases during 20 April – 10 May 2004, which led to the formation of First Manmohan Singh Cabinet...
, wherein she remained Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (2004–2009).
Early life
Meira Kumar was born in the state of Bihar District Patna to the former Deputy Prime MinisterDeputy Prime Minister of India
The Deputy Prime Minister of India is a member of the Indian cabinet in the Indian government. The post is not a constitutional post and seldom carries any specific powers. Generally a Deputy Prime Minister also holds other key portfolios like Home minister or Finance Minister...
and prominent dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
leader, Babu Jagjivan Ram and freedom fighter, Indrani Devi.
She is an Ex-Banasthali student.
She did her M.A., LL.B, Educated at Indraprastha College and Miranda House
Miranda House
Miranda House , is a highly renowned and distinguished constituent college for women at the University of Delhi in India. It is widely regarded as a Premier Women's Institution of Delhi University offering degrees in the Sciences and Liberal Arts . Miranda House has demonstrated academic...
, Delhi University.
Foreign Service
In 1973, she joined the Indian Foreign ServiceIndian Foreign Service
The Indian Foreign Service is the foreign service of India. It is the body of career diplomats of India.The Indian Foreign Service is part of the Central Civil Services of the Government of India...
and served at embassies in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. She also served as a member of the India-Mauritius Joint Commission. While serving for IFS, she also worked in Embassy of India, Madrid from 1976 to 1977. She was at the High Commission of India in London from 1977 to 1979 and at Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs (India)
The Ministry of External Affairs is the foreign ministry of India. It is the Indian government agency responsible for the foreign relations of India. The Minister of External Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is S M Krishna...
from 1980 to 1985.
Political career
Meira Kumar entered electoral politics in 1985 and was elected from BijnorBijnor
Bijnor variously spelt as Bijnaur and Bijnour, is a city and a municipal board in Bijnor district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India...
in Uttar Pradesh defeating political heavyweights like Ram Vilas Paswan
Ram Vilas Paswan
Ram Vilas Paswan is the president of the Lok Janshakti Party and a Rajya Sabha MP.-Early life and education:Paswan was born to a Dusadh family...
and Mayawati
Mayawati
Mayawati is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. This is her fourth term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...
, two powerful dalit leaders. She was a member of the eighth
8th Lok Sabha
List of Members of the 8th Lok Sabha, elected December 1984. The Lok Sabha is the lower house in the Parliament of India.- Important members :* Speaker:...
, eleventh and twelfth Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
's from Karol Bagh
Karol Bagh (Lok Sabha constituency)
Karol Bagh Lok Sabha constituency was a Lok Sabha constituency in the Indian National Capital Territory of Delhi. This constituency came into existence in 1961. It was abolished after the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission were approved by the presidential notification on February 19,...
in Delhi. She lost her seat in the BJP wave of 1999, but was able to get re-elected with a record majority from her father's former constituency of Sasaram
Sasaram
Sasaram , sometimes also spelled as Sahasram, is the administrative headquarters of the Rohtas district in the Indian state of Bihar.It is one of the oldest cities in India, and is famous for production of stone chips and for the local quarrying industry...
in Bihar in 2004 and 2009.
She served in the Congress-led Government as the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2004 to 2009. In 2009 she was briefly inducted as member of the cabinet as Union Minister for Water Resources. On being nominated for the position of speaker, she submitted her resignation three days after assuming ministerial office. She was elected the Speaker of Lok Sabha, thereby becoming the first woman speaker of the country.
Personal life
Meira Kumar is married to Manjul Kumar, a Supreme Court lawyer and they have three children, Anshul, Swati and Devangna.She is a keen sportswoman and holds medals for rifle shooting. She is also a published poet.