Rajendra Kumari Bajpai

Rajendra Kumari Bajpai (8 February 1925 – 17 July 1999) was an Indian National Congress politician, a former Union Minister of India and former Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry. She was elected three times to the Lok Sabha from Sitapur constituency in 1980, 1984 and 1989 and was a close confidant of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Rajendra Kumari Bajpai
Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry
In office
2 May 1995 – 22 April 1998
Personal details
Born(1925-02-08)8 February 1925
Laluchak, Bhagalpur district, Bihar.
Died17 June 1999(1999-06-17) (aged 74)
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
Political partyIndian National Congress

Early life and family

She was born on 8 February 1925 in Laluchak, Bhagalpur district, Bihar to Pt. S.K. Mishra, she was the granddaughter of Ravi Shankar Shukla and niece of Shyama Charan Shukla[1] After her schooling she received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Allahabad University.[2]

She married D.N. Bajpai, a teacher by profession in 1947, who also took part in the Quit India Movement of 1942. The couple had a son Ashok Bajpai and a daughter Mrs. Manisha Dwivedi.[2]

Career

She was member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh from 1962 to 77; remained the head of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) and a close confidant of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.[3] Eventually she held various ministries in the Cabinet of Uttar Pradesh (1970–77).[2] Thereafter, she was elected to the Lok Sabha three consecutive times from Sitapur in 1980, 1984 and 1989.[4] She became Union Minister of State with independent charge of Ministry of Social Welfare (1984–86), Minister of State with independent charge of Labour (1986–87) and Minister of State with independent charge of Welfare (1987–89) with Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister.[5] She was appointed lieutenant governor of Pondicherry from 2 May 1995 to 22 April 1998.[6]

She died on 17 July 1999 at Allahabad after a prolonged kidney-related illness. She was survived by her husband and children.[7] At the time of her death, her son Ashok Bajpai was president of the District Congress committee, while Dr Ranjana Bajpai, her daughter-in-law was president of Uttar Pradesh Mahila Congress.[4]

References
  1. "Rajendra Kumari Bajpai". S9 Biography. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  2. "9th Lok Sabha: Members Bioprofile". Lok Sabha Official website. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013.
  3. "It's family first for UP parties in poll battle". India Today. 14 January 2012.
  4. "Rajendra Kumari Bajpai is dead". Rediff News. 17 July 1999. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  5. "Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership". guide2womenleaders. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  6. Pondicherry Legislative Assembly
  7. "Bajpai dead". 18 July 1999. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
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