Sushma Swaraj, a prominent political figure in India, had a remarkable journey in the world of politics. Born in a small village in Haryana, she began her political career in the 1970s as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She quickly rose through the ranks and became one of the party’s most prominent leaders.
In 2000, Sushma was appointed as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. She was the first woman to hold this position, and she used her new role to make a significant impact on the Indian media landscape. Sushma introduced several policies to promote press freedom and the growth of the private media sector. She also worked to improve the quality of government-run news channels and to increase the transparency of government advertising.
Important dates and years in Life of Sushma Swaraj
- February 14, 1952: Sushma Swaraj is born in Ambala Cantonment, Haryana, India
- 1973: Sushma begins her political career as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- 2000: Sushma is appointed as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government
- 2003: Sushma is appointed as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare
- 2014: Sushma is appointed as the External Affairs Minister in the Narendra Modi government
- 2019: Sushma is elected as the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha
- August 6, 2019: Sushma Swaraj passes away
Sushma’s tenure as Minister of Information and Broadcasting was also marked by several controversies. She was criticized for her handling of the “Tehelka” sting operation, in which a news portal had alleged corruption in the defense ministry. Sushma was accused of trying to cover up the scandal, but she denied the allegations and claimed that she had always acted in the best interests of the country.
In 2003, Sushma was appointed as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare. She was once again the first woman to hold this position, and she used her new role to focus on improving healthcare services in rural areas of the country. She introduced several policies to increase access to healthcare for the poor, including the launch of a national health insurance scheme. Sushma also worked to improve the quality of medical education and to encourage the participation of the private sector in healthcare.
Sushma’s tenure as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare was also marked by several controversies. She was criticized for her handling of the swine flu outbreak in 2009 and for the shortage of vaccines. She was also criticized for her handling of the Kedarnath disaster in 2013. Sushma faced a lot of criticism for her handling of these events but she always stood her ground and defended her actions.
In 2014, Sushma was appointed as the External Affairs Minister in the Narendra Modi government. She was the first woman to hold this position, and she used her new role to promote India’s interests on the global stage. Sushma worked to strengthen India’s relations with other countries, particularly the United States and China. She also played a key role in the resolution of several long-standing disputes, including the Doklam standoff between India and China.
During her tenure as the External Affairs Minister, Sushma also made several important overseas visits, including to the United States, where she met with President Barack Obama. She also visited several other countries, including China, Russia, and the United Kingdom, to strengthen India’s ties with these countries.
In 2019, Sushma was elected as the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha. She played a key role in the opposition’s efforts to hold the ruling government accountable and to raise issues of national importance in the parliament.
Sushma’s political career was marked by several controversies, but she always stood her ground and defended her actions. Despite facing criticism, she remained one of the most popular leaders in the country and was respected by people across the political spectrum. Sushma’s contributions to Indian politics will be remembered for a long time to come.
Sushma Swaraj was a trailblazer for women in Indian politics. She broke barriers and proved that women can excel in any field, including politics. She served as an inspiration for generations of young women in the country who aspire to enter the world of politics.