Sushma Swaraj – A Young Politician In the Making

        “Women Are Less Prone To Corruption”

    Young, bright and articulate, Sushma Swaraj, Education Minister of Haryana, is a lawyer turned politician.  She is of the view that more and more women should participate in politics.  Says she,”Women are more mission-oriented.  Being honest and patient by nature, they are less prone to corruption and less susceptible to lobbyists.  Unlike men, they are not lured by the power of politics.”

     Her efforts as Education Minister of Haryana, reflect her major interests.  An ardent champion of the women’s cause, of the various tasks she has before her, one is to help women overcome the customs which bind them down.  According to her, this can only be done if women are educated.

      The women of Haryana work hard in the fields and also at home.  The Janata Government wants to involve more women in politics.  “We motivate them to come forward to attend the political meetings,”says the Minister.  “In this State, where the literacy rate is low as compared to the rest of the country, special provisions have been made to educate the girls, primarily in the rural areas.  For this, more schools for girls are being opened in the State.  The State Government gives double the matching grants to schools for girls and women.”

     Born in Ambala, she had her early education there where her father was a medical practioner.  After graduation, she did law from Panjab University, Chandigarh.  She was active in student politics.  Even in those days, she revealed her calm, sensible and level-headed qualities which are essential for a successful politician.  Influenced by Jayparkash Narain, she joined his movement and actively participated in it.  After completing law, she joined the Bar and established her own practice at the Supreme Court.  She was a busy lawyer and had a lucrative practice.

   In 1975, she got married to Swaraj Kaushal, a practising lawyer and  also a follower of Jayprakash Narain.  After her marriage, she threw herself into the vortex of activem politics.  She joined the Janata Party in 1977 and successfully contested the elections from Ambala Cantonment constituency the same year.  In 1977 she joined the Ministry  led by Ch. Devi Lal.  She was the Minister for Labour and Employment and also looked after other portfolios including jail, housing, architecture, printing and stationery.  After the Janata Party returned to power in the State in 1985, she joined Devi Lal’s Ministry again.  In January 1988, she became Education Minister and also held the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio.  At present, she holds an independent charge of education only.

       Popularly known as a little woman full of wisdom, she is perhaps the youngest minister in the State.  She is just 35 and has already carved a special niche for herself in the State politics.  Her greatest quality is her total devotion and loyalty to the party leadership.  Being hard-working and conscientious, she has earned the good-will and respect of the party bigwigs.

       “I have never been inactive,” she remarks.  She works unceasingly for the poor and weaker sections of the society.  “We have the common man’s welfare in view.  The Janata government stresses for providing basic facilities to the common man in the rural as well as urban areas.  Keeping this in  mind, it has introduced pension for old people and provision for pure drinking water and electricity is being made  in every  villag”.

        What are her future plans?

       “No definite future plan,” she says emphatically.  “It is only the people’s cause that is dear to me,” she concludes.

  ANJANA DATTA

                              Note:    This article was published in Eve’s Weekly, Nov 18 – 24, 1989