Meira Kumar
From GovernIndia
Background
Born in Patna in 1945, Meira Kumar is the daughter of Deputy Prime Minister and prominent dalit leader, Babu Jagjivan Ram and freedom fighter, Indrani Devi. Her husband, Manjul Kumar is a Supreme Court lawyer. She graduated with a degree in law and a Masters in English and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1973. She was also Member, Indo-Mauritius joint Commission to Mauritius. Meira Kumar entered electoral politics in 1985 and was elected from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. She was inducted into the Manmohan Singh cabinet, as Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. Meira Kumar is a keen sportswoman and holds medals for rifle shooting. She is also a poetess.