Who is Atishi Marlena Singh? - Educationist and Politician
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Member of Legislative Assembly, Delhi |
| Political Party | Aam Aadmi Party |
| Constituency | Kalkaji, Delhi |
| Known For | Architect behind Delhi's Education Revolution |
Atishi Marlena Singh's journey began with her pursuit of higher education. She earned her B.A. (Hons.) in History from the prestigious St. Stephen's College, Delhi, where she was awarded the Sumitomo-St. Stephen's Scholarship for academic excellence, the Rajpal Memorial Award for overall contribution to college life, and the Dipchand Memorial Prize for ranking first in her graduating batch.
Atishi's academic achievements led her to the University of Oxford, where she completed her Masters in Ancient and Modern History from 2001 to 2003 as a Radhakrishnan-Chevening Scholar. She later returned to Oxford from 2005 to 2006 to pursue a Masters in Educational Research as a Rhodes Scholar, a highly competitive international scholarship.
Early Career and Activism
After completing her studies, Atishi worked as a teacher at Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh from 2003 to 2004. She then joined Eklavya, an educational research organization in Madhya Pradesh, as a researcher from 2004 to 2005.
In 2006, Atishi co-founded Maanavsthali, a grassroots initiative focused on sustainable living and community mobilization on social and ecological issues in Madhya Pradesh. She worked with Maanavsthali until 2012, demonstrating her commitment to social and environmental causes.
Entry into Politics and Education Reform
Atishi's entry into politics was through the India Against Corruption movement, which led to the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012. As a member of AAP, she became a key figure in the party's efforts to reform Delhi's public education system.
From 2015 to 2018, Atishi served as an Advisor to the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, focusing on education policy. Her interventions played a crucial role in transforming Delhi's government schools, making them the highest-ranked in the country and comparable to elite private schools. This transformation has provided 1.6 million children with the opportunity to realize their full potential, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Political Career
In February 2020, Atishi was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Kalkaji constituency in Delhi. She currently serves as the Chairperson of three Delhi Assembly Committees: the Committee on Ethics, the Committee on Environment, and the Standing Committee on Education.
Atishi's diverse experiences as a Rhodes scholar, grassroots activist, educationist, policy reformer, and elected representative have given her a comprehensive perspective on governance issues. Her passion for education reform and her dedication to improving the lives of marginalized communities continue to drive her political career.