List of First Women in All Fields in India

According to Indian culture, a woman is believed to be a superpower. This superpower has earned a lot for our country and has been a pioneer in all revolutions in the past. Although traditional roles of women in India were limited to household, they played a major role in the upliftment of society. In the past, women have created leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Some of the leaders like Rani Lakshmi Bai have also defended our country and set an example for others to follow. Be it any field, from politics to space, Indian women have set records and left a benchmark for others to follow. However, some women have created history by being the first ones to achieve certain records and heights in various fields. We have listed below some of the First women in All Fields in India. You can go through the list and get inspired by these women.

1. Pratibha Patil (First Women President of India)

India's 12^th President took oath on July 25, 2007, and created history by becoming India's first Women President. Also, a member of the Indian National Congress, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, was nominated by United Progressive Alliance. She is even popular for being the first woman Governor of Rajasthan. There hasn't been any other female President of India till date, and she was also a lawyer.

Pratibha Patil was closely associated with the Gandhi family, which made her Sonia Gandhi's favorite which aided in bringing her name forward for the post of President in 2007. She took the position in 2007 and continued for five years before Pranab Mukherjee took command.

2. Indira Gandhi (First Woman Prime Minister, First Bharat Ratna Winner)

She was the first woman Prime Minister of the country and served for three consecutive terms, and was assassinated during the fourth term, which started in 1980. Gandhi played a major role in the freedom struggle as she led the formation of 'Baal Chakra Sangh' and 'Vanar Sena' to get assistance from the children at the time of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

From 1964 to 1966, she held the position of the Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Afterward, from January 1966 onwards, she became the Prime of India. During this time, she was also the Minister of Atomic energy. Additionally, she is associated with many organizations, such as Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Trust.

3. Sarojini Naidu (First Woman Governor)

Civil Rights, anti-imperialistic ideas, and women's emancipation are some of the important issues that Naidu works for. She is a poet and political activist who is popular for her contribution to India's freedom struggle. Her poems were so impressive that Mahatma Gandhi called her the 'Bharat Kokila'. She was also given the title of 'the Nightingale of India'.

Sarojini Naidu was born in Hyderabad. She belongs to a Bengali Family and was fond on poems. She found her interest in the Indian National Congress' movement for independence. After which, she joined the Indian Nationalist movement as she was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's idea of Swaraj.

4. Razia Sultan (First Woman Ruler on Delhi Throne)

Razia was also known as Sultan Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din. She became the first woman ruler of the Delhi Throne and administrated from 1231 to 1232. Sultan is the only female Muslim ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, which is situated in northern India. Impressed by the performance of Razia during the absence of Iltutmish, he decided to nominate her as his successor. Ruknuddin Firoz Shah, who was the half-brother of Razia, succeeded Iltutmsh. However, Razia ascended the throne in 1236 after Ruknuddin was deposed during a rebellion against him.

5. Kiran Bedi (First Woman IPS Officer of India)

Kiran Bedi is a popular woman and a role model for many young girls in India. 'The first woman Indian Police Service Officer' title is earned by her. United Nations Civil Police Adviser is the position held by Bedi in 2003, and she was the first Indian to do so. Moreover, she is also a social activist and tennis player. From May 28, 2016, onwards, she held the office of the Governor of Puducherry till February 16, 2021. Navjyoti and the Indian Vision Foundation are founded by Bedi to promote adult literacy, counseling for women, primary education, and vocational training for women. Bedi is a true inspiration for young women in India. As a tennis player, she has also won many Asian Championships.

6. Sucheta Kriplani (First Indian Woman Chief Minister of a State)

Holding the office of the CM of Uttar Pradesh from 1963 to 1967, Sucheta Kriplani became the first Indian Woman Chief Minister of a State. She was also associated with the Indian Freedom Struggle and Politics. The state employees started a 62-day long strike during her reign; handling this situation was one of her greatest achievements.

7. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur (First Health Minister of India)

A popular activist and politician in India, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur's full name was Dame Rajkumari Bibiji Amrit Kaur. Despite being belonging to a noble family, Kaur left her comforts to take up social welfare activities. Holding the office of Health Minister of India in 1947, she became the first Indian woman to do so. Holding this position, she came to be known as the First Woman Cabinet Minister of India. Apart from these achievements, she was a popular personality in the Independence of India.

8. Annie Besant (First Indian Woman President of INC (Indian National Congress))

'Champion of human freedom' is the title given to Annie Besant. She was also a women's rights activist, socialist, orator, philanthropist, writer, theosophist, and educationist. As a writer, she has contributed around three hundred books and pamphlets. Additionally, she is also known to have co-founded the Banaras Hindu University. Annie acted as a public proponent of atheism and scientific materialism for fifteen years in England. Her sole intention was to ensure education for the poor, good living conditions, and employment.

9. Meera Sahib Fatima Bibi (First Woman Supreme Court Judge of India)

Born on April 30, 1927, Bibi was the first woman to attend the higher judiciary and become Supreme court Justice in India. A former Supreme Court Judge and a member of the National Human Rights Commission of India, Justice Fatima Bibi is the first Indian woman to be a Supreme Court Judge. Another position that glorified her success was that of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. While attending law school, there were only five women in her class, and this number later dropped down to three. However, Fatima was self-motivated and went on to give the Bar Council of India Exams, which she topped.

10. Nirja Bhanot (First Woman who got Ashoka Chakra)

Neerja Bhanot became the first woman to have been awarded the Ashoka Chakra for bravery during a plane hijack. She died while saving the lives of the passengers of Pan Am Flight 73. She lost her life just two days before her 23^rd birthday in 1968. She is the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, awarded to her posthumously. In addition, there are several accolades in her name received from the United States government and Pakistan government. Inspired by her heroism, Ram Madhvani has directed the 2016 film 'Neerja', which is her biopic depicting her life and the incident.

11. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (First Indian Woman Ambassador at United Nations)

A diplomat and politician in India, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit hailed from a political family which was prominent in India. 'First Indian woman Ambassador to the United Nations' is the title credited to her. Pandit was also the 6^th Governor of Maharashtra. She was the sister of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and as the most important diplomat of India, she was sent to London. This happened after she served as Nehru in the Soviet Union.

List of Other First Women in All Fields in India