In a world where some people still have doubts over women taking up key political positions in the government, many inspirational women have time and again thrown this stereotype out of the window with their commendable work and spirit. In fact, six countries that are currently winning the coronavirus battle have one thing in common– women leaders. In March, a virologist on BBC’s panel lauded Kerala’s health institutions headed under KK Shailaja for controlling the coronavirus outbreak as well as the rumors around it. And now, she now has another feather of achievement added to her cap.
As per a report in The New Indian Express, a monthly British magazine called ‘Prospect’ has announced Kerala’s teacher-turned-health minister KK Shailaja as the World’s Top Thinker 2020 for the COVID-19 age. She ranks number one and is the only Indian in the entire list of 50 personalities, which was finalized as per 20,000 votes cast and counted in a public ballot.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/bMXyTIf4u3
— Shailaja Teacher (@shailajateacher) July 12, 2017
Praising the minister, the magazine wrote, “Shailaja teacher was the right woman in the right place in 2020. “When Covid-19 was still “a China story” in January, she not only accurately foresaw its inevitable arrival but also fully grasped the implications. She rapidly got the WHO’s full “test, trace and isolate” drill implemented in the state, and bought crucial time by getting a grip of the airports, and containing the first cases to arrive on Chinese flights.”
“So deft was her handling of a 2018 outbreak of the deadly Nipah disease that it was commemorated in a film, Virus,” it added.
Participated in a panel discussion of @UN on the UN Public Service Day. It was an honour to be a part of a panel that included the UN Secretary-general, Director General of @WHO (@DrTedros) & many others. We had a great conversation on the ongoing efforts against #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/h2N4xEZROk
— Shailaja Teacher (@shailajateacher) June 24, 2020
Her previous international accolades include being invited by the UN to speak in an event organized to honor our frontline heroes of the coronavirus pandemic and being hailed as a ‘coronavirus slayer’ and ‘rock star health minister’ in an article by the UK newspaper ‘The Guardian’.
കേരളത്തെ മാതൃകാ ഭക്ഷ്യസുരക്ഷാ സംസ്ഥാനമാക്കി മാറ്റുകയാണ് സര്ക്കാരിന്റെ ലക്ഷ്യം. ഈയൊരു ലക്ഷ്യം മുന്നില് കണ്ടാണ് സ്കൂള് കുട്ടികള്ക്കിടയില് ഭക്ഷ്യ സുരക്ഷയ്ക്ക് ഊന്നല് നല്കുന്ന സേഫ് & ന്യൂട്രീഷ്യസ് ഫുഡ് അറ്റ് സ്കൂള് എന്ന പദ്ധതി ആരംഭിച്ചു. pic.twitter.com/QqYDdJDu0Y
— Shailaja Teacher (@shailajateacher) December 6, 2018
With the football lovers. #WorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/VQxbfhRekA
— Shailaja Teacher (@shailajateacher) June 14, 2018
Deccan Chronicle reports that the second position in the UK magazine’s list is held by New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Talking about Jacinda, the magazine writes, “Her instinctive, bridge-building leadership after the Christchurch mosque massacre was an inspiration. And her COVID-19 strategy—devised in lockstep with chief scientist Juliet Gerrard—built with intelligence and empathy on a foundation of unflinching honesty to achieve some of the world’s best results.”
Other people who made it to the coveted list include
- Historian of slavery Olivette Otele
- Writer and Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel
- French economist and Nobel prize winner Esther Duflo
- Philosopher Cornel West
- Environmentalist David Attenborough.
A total of 26 women have made it to the list, making up the majority of names as announced by the influential UK magazine. The future definitely seems to be female!
What do you think? Tell us!