Sushma Swaraj, one of the most prominent woman leaders of the nation died on 6th August in Delhi. Her remarkable political journey surely needs a revisit to understand the significant tragic loss of the nation.
Political milestones-
- Sushma Swaraj had her first experience of political journey as a student leader. She was closely associated with ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad).
- She entered the national political arena for the first time in the 1970s when she joined the Janata party and actively campaigned against the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi government.
- Under Devi Lal’s Chief ministership, She then went onto becoming the youngest woman cabinet minister of the nation at the age of 25. She was elected from Ambala Cantonment seat. Here, She served for two more terms.
- She then became the President of the Janata Party of Haryana in 1979 and held the post for four years.
- In 1984, She joined Bhartiya Janta Party where for two years, she held the post of BJP’s all-India Secretary.
- In 1990, She was elected as a member of Rajya Sabha.
- Under the 13 day government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1996, she then held the portfolio of Cabinet Minister with the charge of Information & Broadcasting Ministry.
- Again in 1998, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee came back to power, She again held the same profile.
- In 2000, She was elected as a member of Rajya Sabha.
- In 2003-2004, She led the charge of the Ministry of Health and Family welfare. At the same time, she served the nation by being Minister of parliamentary Affairs also.
- In 2009, Sushma Swaraj made a historic feat by becoming the first woman Leader of Opposition in 15th Lok Sabha. She remained in this position till 2014.
- After Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, She was offered to take the charge of the External Affairs Ministry, where she worked extensively for the Indian diaspora. After Indira Gandhi, she is the second woman to lead this ministry.
- Due to her stature and growing profile in foreign relations, she was invited to speak in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It was landmark progress for India in international relations.
- In November 2018, She willfully refused to contest the Lok Sabha elections citing her health issues.
On Tuesday, She then died of cardiac arrest. National leaders and ambassadors from all over the world are coming over to pay tribute to this great leader. The whole nation is drowned in grief over the incident.
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