New Delhi: Anna Rajam Malhotra, the trailblazing determine who carved her path as India’s inaugural feminine IAS officer post-Independence, stands as a permanent beacon of inspiration for innumerable ladies harbouring aspirations throughout the realm of civil providers. Her extraordinary journey transcended societal conventions and confronted deeply ingrained gender stereotypes, imprinting an indelible legacy on the panorama of India’s civil providers. Fortified by unyielding willpower, mental prowess, and an unwavering spirit, she not solely shattered the glass ceiling but additionally paved the best way for myriad ladies to tread the trail of empowerment and progress.
Anna Rajam Malhotra, born as Anna Rajam George in 1927 within the Ernakulam district of Kerala, charted her instructional pursuits to Chennai after finishing her preliminary education in Kozhikode, enrolling within the College of Madras for increased research.
Initiating her odyssey into civil providers in 1951, a interval marked by entrenched gender biases, Malhotra opted for the Madras cadre, serving within the state beneath the management of the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Rajagopalachari. Throughout her coaching, she crossed paths with RN Malhotra, her future husband and later the Governor of the Reserve Financial institution of India from 1985 to 1990.
An architectural milestone in her profession was the institution of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Belief (JNPT) close to Mumbai. Because the appointed chairperson in the course of the challenge’s execution, a task designated throughout her deputation within the Central authorities, Anna Rajam Malhotra performed a pivotal position in steering the event of this state-of-the-art port, fostering commerce and infrastructure.
In recognition of her illustrious civil service journey, Anna Rajam Malhotra was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan Award in 1989, a testomony to her distinctive contributions and dedication.
Her skilled trajectory spanned service beneath seven chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, testifying to her versatility and flexibility. Collaborating intently with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the course of the 1982 Asian Video games in Delhi, she lent her administrative acumen to the success of the occasion. As well as, her tenure in central providers witnessed important contributions to the personnel part of the Union Residence Ministry.
Publish her official retirement, Malhotra continued to contribute actively, assuming roles reminiscent of director of Resort Leela Enterprise Ltd, showcasing her prowess in various fields. Regrettably, she breathed her final on the age of 91 at her residence in suburban Andheri, Mumbai, in 2018, forsaking a legacy that serves as a perennial fount of inspiration for generations to return.
