By Ritu Jha-
Indian Americans are expressing enthusiasm over Arvind Kejriwal recently appointing Atishi Singh as chief minister of Delhi.
Singh, or Atishi Marlena, likes to go by her first name, Atishi. [Above photo, left].
A staunch loyalist, Atishi is spearheading the Aam Admi Party, which she joined at its inception, as it battles multiple crises. The 43-year-old is now the third woman chief minister of Delhi after Sheila Dikshit and Sushma Swaraj.
A key member of the Manifesto Drafting Committee of the party for the 2013 Assembly election, Atishi played an important role in shaping the party’s policies in the early stages of formation. Supporters admired her pleasant and calm demeanor in television debates, and she has tirelessly worked toward the welfare of society, paying special attention to the education system. She played a pivotal role in revamping education in government-run schools in Delhi.
Born to Delhi University professors Vijay Kumar Singh and Tripta Wahi, Atishi did her schooling at Springdale School in New Delhi. She studied history at St. Stephen’s College, where she stood first in Delhi University, and went to Oxford University to pursue her Master’s on a Chevening scholarship. A few years later she earned her second Master’s from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar in Educational Research.
Atishi also is a committed activist who chose politics to achieve lasting change. She has spent seven years in a small village in Madhya Pradesh where she got involved in organic farming and progressive education systems. She worked with several non-profit organizations there, where she met some AAP members for the first time.
Her political resume has been remarkable. From being an adviser to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the education ministry she rose to become a minister. After being appointed as a minister in March 2023, Atishi expanded her influence and looked after 14 portfolios — more than any other minister in Delhi’s government — when her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal and two other leaders were incarcerated. She also led AAP’s electoral campaign during the Lok Sabha elections.
Maya Vishwakarma[Above photo sitting next to Atishi], the founder and chairperson of the Sukarma Foundation and an AAP supporter, remembers meeting Atishi on July 30, 2016, during her visit to the Bay Area.
“It was an Aam Aadmi Party volunteers’ gathering and an appreciation event, and I was impressed by her dedication and vision for Delhi. When she became an advisor to education minister Manish Sisodia, she took a token salary of Rs 1 (one Rupee salary) which showed her commitment and passion for education,” she said.
Vishwakarma, a native of Mehragaon village in district Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, contested the Lok Sabha election of 2014. Recalling Atishi’s support, she said that she was a candidate from Hoshangabad Lok Sabha.
“I met her during a meeting,” Vishwakarma said. “She was impressed by my passion and education as a woman candidate, that’s how I got the Lok Sabha ticket. Since then I have interacted with Manish Sisodia and Atishi regularly. I believe she is a strong choice made by Arvind Kejriwal, and her focus on education and women’s issues is commendable. I would define her as a passionate and determined leader. I wish her all the best.”
Sharing another memorable moment with Atishi, Vishwakarma recalled that Atishi wasn’t quite prepared for how cool Bay Area evenings can become in the summer.
“Our event was in the afternoon and later in the evening we went for dinner. It was chilly outside. She started feeling cold and asked for a jacket. I had an extra windshield light green jacket which she is wearing in the last picture,” Vishwakarma said with a proud smile.
Another long-time AAP supporter Santosh Addagulla[Above photo sitting second from right], told indica that the local Bay Area AAP, organized a public meeting for Atishi on July 31, 2016 at a restaurant on Java Drive in Sunnyvale. Atishi then was an advisor to the Delhi government, and she’d visited Stanford for some training and was stationed there.
“She spoke at length about the transformation they had achieved in the Education sector and the way forward that they envisioned for government schools in Delhi,” Addagulla recalled. “She showed maturity in her responses to some uneasy questions and handled them with patience.”
Addagulla said Atishi is “absolutely” the best pick for chief minister.
“I think with her academic background, her role in the Education Revolution of Delhi, I had guessed she would be the first choice and I was not surprised at all. We need more politicians like her not only in India but also around the world, she has grown in the ranks of the party with sheer hardwork and maturity, I feel her selfless work and sincerity got her here.”
[Photo courtesy: Maya Vishwakarma]
