Sushma Swaraj (1952-2019)

Sushma Swaraj was an Indian politician and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Born on February 14, 1952, in Ambala Cantt, Haryana, she passed away on August 6, 2019, due to a cardiac arrest. She was a lawyer by profession and was also known for her oratory skills.

Sushma Swaraj began her political career in the 1970s as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In 1977, she joined the Janata Party and was elected as a member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. She was just 25 years old at that time and was the youngest-ever MLA in Haryana.

In 1979, Sushma Swaraj became the State President of the Janata Party in Haryana. In 1980, she joined the BJP when the Janata Party was dissolved. She contested the Lok Sabha elections from South Delhi in 1980 and 1984 but lost on both occasions. However, she was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1990.

In 1996, Sushma Swaraj was elected as a member of the 11th Lok Sabha from South Delhi constituency. She was appointed as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government. She was also appointed as the Minister of Telecommunications. In 1998, she was re-elected as a member of the Lok Sabha from South Delhi and was appointed as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting once again.

In 1999, Sushma Swaraj was elected as a member of the 13th Lok Sabha from the Vidisha constituency in Madhya Pradesh. She was appointed as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting once again. She also held the portfolio of the Minister of Telecommunications and the Minister of Health and Family Welfare.

In 2004, when the BJP lost the general elections, Sushma Swaraj was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. She was the first woman to hold this position. She was re-elected as a member of the 14th Lok Sabha from Vidisha constituency.

In 2009, Sushma Swaraj was re-elected as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha from Vidisha constituency. She was appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. In 2014, when the BJP won the general elections, she was appointed as the Minister of External Affairs in the Narendra Modi-led government.

As the Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj played a key role in India's foreign policy. She was known for her proactive approach in reaching out to Indian nationals in distress abroad. She used social media extensively to help Indian nationals in distress, and her tweets were widely followed and appreciated.

Sushma Swaraj was also known for her oratory skills. She was an eloquent speaker and was often called upon to speak on behalf of the BJP. She was known for her ability to connect with people and was respected by politicians across party lines.

Apart from politics, Sushma Swaraj was also a prolific writer. She wrote several books in Hindi, including a collection of poems titled "Meri Ikyavan Kavitayen" (My Fifty-One Poems). She was also a trained classical singer and was a patron of Indian classical music.

Sushma Swaraj was a trailblazer for women in Indian politics. She was a role model for many aspiring women politicians and inspired a generation of women to take up.