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Meira KumarIndian statesman and politician, MP
Date of Birth: 31.03.1945
Country:  Georgia |
Content:
- Meira Kumar: An Indian Icon
- Diplomatic Career
- Political Journey
- Ministerial Roles
- First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha
- Personal Life
Meira Kumar: An Indian Icon
Early Life and EducationMeira Kumar was born on March 31, 1945, in the Patna district of Bihar. Her father, Jagjivan Ram, was a prominent Indian politician and future Deputy Prime Minister, while her mother, Indrani Devi, was a freedom fighter. Kumar earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in law from the University of Delhi.
Diplomatic Career
In 1973, Kumar embarked on a diplomatic career, joining the Indian Foreign Service. She served in Indian embassies in Spain (1976-1977), the United Kingdom (1977-1979), and Mauritius. From 1980 to 1985, she worked in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
Political Journey
Kumar entered politics in 1984, being elected to the 8th Lok Sabha from the Bijnor constituency in Uttar Pradesh, defeating prominent Dalit leaders Ram Vilas Paswan and Mayawati. She served as a member of the 11th Lok Sabha (1996-1997) and the 12th Lok Sabha (1998-1999), both times representing the Karol Bagh constituency in Delhi. In 1999, she lost her election bid to a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.
In 2004, Kumar was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha from the Sasaram constituency in Bihar, which was previously held by her father. She was re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha from the same constituency in 2009.
Ministerial Roles
From 2004 to 2009, Kumar served as the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. In 2009, she was appointed Minister of Water Resources. However, she resigned from this post just three days later upon her election as Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha
In 2009, Kumar became the first woman to hold the post of Speaker of the Lok Sabha. She served in this role from 2009 to 2014.
Personal Life
Kumar is married to Manjul Kumar, a Supreme Court advocate. They have three children. She is an avid shooter and enjoys rifle shooting.
