In a historic appointment, Atishi Marlena Singh has been named the new Chief Minister of Delhi, making her the third woman to hold this esteemed position. She follows in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj, Delhi’s first female Chief Minister, and Sheila Dixit, the second. Atishi, who represents the Kalkaji assembly seat as an MLA, is a close ally of Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party and former Chief Minister of Delhi.
Early Life and Education Born on June 8, 1981, Atishi hails from an academic family with her parents, Vijay Singh and Tripta Singh, both serving as professors at Delhi University. She completed her early education at Springdales School in Delhi and went on to earn a master’s degree from the prestigious St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University.
Academic Achievements Atishi furthered her education by obtaining a Master’s Degree in History from Oxford University in 2003 through the Chevening Scholarship. In 2005, she conducted educational research as a Rhodes Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford. Prior to her political career, Atishi also taught History and English at Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh.
Historic Significance With her appointment, Atishi becomes the second woman to lead a state in India, following West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee. She is the third woman to serve as Chief Minister of Delhi.
Historical Context of Delhi’s Chief Ministers The first Chief Minister of Delhi was Chaudhary Brahm Prakash of Congress, who served from March 17, 1952, to February 12, 1955. The position was abolished in 1956 when Delhi was declared a Union Territory. In 1966, Delhi was granted the status of a Metropolitan Municipality, and in 1991, it was designated as the National Capital Territory following a constitutional amendment. This amendment allowed Delhi to have a 70-member assembly, with 12 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes.
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