Women from all over the world are creating history, be it any field – sports, politics, business, entertainment, art, they are proving their mark. They are proving the grotesque double standards wrong, formed by the people around them and the indictments of the judging society.
Well known or not, their achievements are all the more extraordinary, given the hurdles they faced making it in fields that were once regarded as ‘no place for a woman’. The way they are rapidly escalating in their respective domains and creating milestones is really exemplary. As a woman, I feel proud of them.
In a milestone move, Nepal has elected its first female president: Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
She is the deputy leader of the party led by the Prime Minister of Nepal, Khadga Prasad Oli. She is an active campaigner of woman’s rights. She was among the politicians who campaigned for ensuring women’s rights in the new constitution, that was adopted last month.
While I wish all the good luck for her tenure as the President, let’s have a look at some of the world’s first female leaders.
1. Indira Gandhi, India
She was the first Prime Minister of India who served the nation from the year 1966 until 1984Â when her life ended in assassination.
She surprised her father’s old colleagues when she led with an authoritarian hand and sacked some of the highest ranking officials. She brought great changes in the agricultural sector of the country.
2. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first female prime minister in 1960Â after her party won national elections in Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon).
Her government nationalized various economic enterprises, carried out land reforms, and promulgated a new constitution that created an executive presidency and made Ceylon into Sri Lanka.
3. Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh
She was the Prime Minister from 1991- 1996 and again from 2001-2006. When she plunged into the political realm in the year 1991, she was the first woman in the country’s history.
In the year 2011, the New Jersey State Senate honored Khaleda Zia as a “Fighter for Democracy” and it was the first time the state had honored any foreign leader.
4. Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto became the Prime Minister of Pakistan in December of 1988. She holds the distinction of being the first female Prime minister of a Muslim-majority nation and also, she remains as the Pakistan’s only female Prime Minister till date.
Known for her authority and political astuteness, she led the country’s economy and national growth.
She was called the Iron lady of Pakistan. Malala Yousufzai said that Bhutto is her inspiration.
5. Angela Merkel, Germany
She became Germany’s first female Chancellor after being elected by parliamentarians with a decisive majority. She is known to play an indispensable role in handling the financial crisis at European and international levels, which made her an extraordinary politician.
She topped Forbes most powerful Women List 2014.
6. Margaret Thatcher, UK
She was sworn in as Prime Minister in the U.K. on May 4, 1979. She was the first female Prime Minister of Britain and she served 3 consecutive terms. She reduced trade union power, privatized certain industries, lowered taxes and reduced social expenditure across the board.
She was known as the Iron Lady.
7. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norway
She was first elected prime minister in 1981 and served as the Prime Minister from February till October of that year. She was re-elected in 1986 and held the post until 1989.
She remodelled the concept of sustainable development in her political career.
8. Corazon Aquino, Philippines
She became the first female President in 1986, ending years of authoritarian rule of Ferdinand Marcos. It was also during her tenure that the United States finally ended its military bases and presence in the country.
She envisioned agrarian and land reforms as the centerpiece of her administrative agenda.
9. Mary Robinson, Ireland
She became Ireland’s first female President on December 3, 1990.
She is widely regarded because she transformed Ireland to a great extent. She revitalised and liberalised a previously conservative political scenario. She resigned from the Presidency 2 months ahead of the end of her term because she wanted to take up her post in the United Nations.
So, here are the women who transformed the political scenarios in their tenure.
More power to women! 😀