New Delhi: Anna Rajam Malhotra, India’s first feminine IAS officer after Independence, stands as an everlasting supply of inspiration for numerous girls who aspire to affix the civil providers. She exemplified the best qualities of dedication and laborious work, breaking by way of the glass ceiling and paving the trail for future generations of girls in India.
Born as Anna Rajam George within the Ernakulam district of Kerala in 1927, she relocated to Chennai after finishing her education in Kozhikode to pursue greater schooling on the University of Madras.
Anna Rajam Malhotra launched into her civil providers journey in 1951, a interval when entrenched gender stereotypes offered formidable challenges. Choosing the Madras cadre, she served within the Madras state beneath the management of the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Rajagopalachari. She married her batchmate, RN Malhotra, who later served because the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1985 to 1990.
Anna Rajam Malhotra, India’s pioneering feminine IAS officer, earned recognition for her pivotal position in establishing the nation’s fashionable port—Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), positioned close to Mumbai. She assumed the place of chairperson throughout the challenge’s execution, a duty assigned as a part of her deputation within the Central authorities.
In recognition of her distinguished civil service profession, Anna Rajam Malhotra was honored with the Padma Bhushan Award in 1989, India’s third-highest civilian accolade.
During her illustrious profession, Anna Rajam Malhotra served beneath seven chief ministers of Tamil Nadu. She collaborated intently with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi when he oversaw the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi. Additionally, she contributed her experience to the personnel part of the Union Home Ministry throughout her tenure in central providers.
After retiring from her official duties, Malhotra served as a director of Hotel Leela Venture Ltd. She handed away on the age of 91 at her residence in suburban Andheri, Mumbai. The journey of Anna Rajam Malhotra exemplifies how unwavering dedication, resilience, and unwavering dedication can propel people in the direction of the conclusion of their desires.
