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 dedication, mental prowess, and an unwavering spirit, she not solely shattered the glass ceiling but in addition paved the way in which 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 University 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 below the management of the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Rajagopalachari. During her coaching, she crossed paths with RN Malhotra, her future husband and later the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1985 to 1990.
An architectural milestone in her profession was the institution of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) close to Mumbai. As the appointed chairperson throughout the undertaking’s execution, a task designated throughout her deputation within the Central authorities, Anna Rajam Malhotra performed a pivotal function 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 below seven chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, testifying to her versatility and adaptableness. Collaborating intently with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi throughout the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi, she lent her administrative acumen to the success of the occasion. In addition, her tenure in central providers witnessed vital contributions to the personnel part of the Union Home Ministry.
Post her official retirement, Malhotra continued to contribute actively, assuming roles resembling director of Hotel Leela Venture 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, abandoning a legacy that serves as a perennial fount of inspiration for generations to come back.
