5 Things You Need To Know About Nirmala Sitharaman

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Buzz 46: 5 Things You Need To Know About India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Very few women hold positions of power in the Indian political scenario, as is in other spheres as well. The scene is undergoing a sea change although the situation is not yet up to the mark. However, there are some women in politics who make heads turn with their sheer presence and immense contribution to the field. And Nirmala Sitharaman is definitely one of them.

On Nirmala Sitharaman’s birthday (18 August), here are 5 things that you should be aware of.

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1. First Full-Time Woman Finance Minister

Nirmala Sitaraman is the second woman to lead the Defense Ministry, second only to the first woman Prime Minister of India Shrimati Indira Gandhi. That apart, she is the first woman to hold the post full-time. This is because earlier Mrs Gandhi had held the position only for a short duration between 1970 and 1971 as an additional portfolio along with being the PM of the country.

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2. Second Woman Defence Minister

Apart from being the first full-time woman Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman is the first woman Defence Minister of the country as well. This time too, she is second only to Shri Indira Gandhi, who was the first Indian lady to hold this post. She is the 33rd Defence Minister of India and the 26th individual to assume this position.

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3. Joined BJP In 1991

After returning to India in 1991, Nirmala Sitharaman joined the BJP, although her entire family of in-laws were supporters of the Congress. She became the party's spokesperson under Ravi Shankar Prasad, becoming the face of the party and lending voice to it on television shows and debates. She decided to join BJP and started making a name for herself when Nitin Gadkari was the BJP President. Before leading the Defence Ministry followed by the Finance Ministry, she was given the independent charge of Minister of State under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. What’s more, she has also headed the Finance and Corporate Affairs portfolio under the Minister of State.

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4. Early Education & Career Before Joining Politics

Born and brought up in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Nirmala Sitharaman completed her graduation from Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, Tiruchirapalli and her Masters in Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Next, she pursued a PHD where her dissertation topic was on Indo European textile trade. After getting married in 1986 to Parakala Prabhakar, whom she met at JNU, she relocated to London with her husband. After a stint as a salesgirl at Habitat, a home decor store, she joined Price Waterhouse followed by BBC.

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5. Passions & Hobbies

Nirmala Sitharaman is inclined towards classical music, especially ones that are devoted to Lord Krishna, as she is a devotee of the Lord. She spends three hours reading newspapers daily. Her other passions include reading, cooking, and travelling.

Buzz 46: 5 Things You Need To Know About India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

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