Anna Rajam Malhotra

When India just turned independent, it started building institutions and bureaucracy. While many men found their place in the founding positions, there were a very few women who were able to make their place in a male dominated society. Similar was the case for Indian administrative services. But there was one officer who made history by becoming the first woman IAS officer in the year 1951, defying all the struggles and societal norms.

While not many people acknowledge or celebrate her accomplishments, she paved the way for women in Indian civil services in many ways.

Anna Rajam Malhotra served as the first female Indian administrative service officer in 1951. Additionally, she was the first woman to have served in many high-profile roles, including holding the position of the first woman secretary to the government of India in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas in 1985. She also contributed to urban development and disaster management while serving in Indian bureaucracy. Additionally, she was also a recipient of Padmas Bhushan in 1989. While she quietly retired in 1985, her career stands as an inspiration for women in Indian bureaucracy, civil services and elsewhere.

Presently located in Pathanamthitta district, in the quiet village of Niranam, Anna Rajam Malhotra was born on 17 July 1927. She grew up in a household that prioritised learning, and while at that time, girl child education was optional, she was motivated to pursue academics. Raised mainly in the city of Kozhikode, she attended Providence Women’s College for her formal education in higher classes and went on to graduate from Malabar Christian College. Further, she post graduated in the subject of English literature from the University of Madras.

In 1950, she cleared the Union Public Service Commission examination for Indian Civil Services where she expressed her will to join the Indian administrative services.

For a woman in 1950 in India, it was not easy to take up the role of Indian administrative service officer. There was a lot of resistance as it was believed that this position was more suitable for male candidates. When Anna Rajam Malhotra cleared her UPSC exam examination in 1950, she appeared for the interview. The selection board that interviewed her suggested that she should opt for a more suitable service or position as she was a woman candidate. This was a redirection that Anna Rajam Malhotra refused to accept. She was adamant on accepting the Indian administrative service only and thus, went on to become the first female IAS officer in India.

For her first posting, she was assigned to the Madras cadre. She was subjected to initial hesitation from senior leaders, including the Chief Minister C Rajagopalachari. This hesitation was mainly inspired by the uncomfortable feel postings. However, Anna Rajam Malhotra insisted that she shall be allotted same responsibilities as male IAS officers. Thus, she went on to become India’s first woman, sub collector, positioned in Thiruvannamalai district where she was responsible to monitor and manage the revenue administration and law and order duties.

Anna Rajam Malhotra‘s career was full of firsts and foundations. She was commissioned as the first female IAS officer of India in 1951 and the first woman sub collector in India at her first posting. Later, she went on to become the first woman secretary to the government of India and served in various departments where she contributed to urban development, disaster management, and education initiatives for marginalised communities. She was also appointed as the first woman chairperson of the Jawaharlal Nehru port trust JNPT in Mumbai. She led the development of JNPT as a maritime gateway.

In the year, when Anna Rajam Malhotra joined the Indian administrative service, she also got married. In 1951, she was waited to R.N. Malhotra, who was also her batchmate. R.N. Malhotra later became the governor of the Reserve Bank of India and together, both of them were recognised as one of India’s earliest bureaucratic power couples. Even though Anna Rajam, Malhotra’s husband was also positioned in a high profile role, she carried her own identity. Whenever her achievements are talked about, there is hardly mention of her husband which clearly signifies her individual standing in administrative services in India.

In the year 1989, Anna Rajam Malhotra was awarded the Padma Bhushan for her exceptional public service. This accolade not only acknowledges her accomplishments but also inspires many women administrators till today. At the age of 91, she passed away in 2018. However, her journey still continues through all the women officers in the Indian civil services.