Atishi Marlena, New Delhi CM: Biography, Education and Career

Aatish Malena is a dynamic politician from the Awami Party who has risen to prominence through her leadership in the education sector in Delhi. As the newly elected Chief Minister of Delhi, she has introduced important education reforms, empowered teachers, and advocated for student welfare, making her a key figure in modern Indian politics.

Aatish Malena was born on 8 June 1981. She is a well-known Indian politician and the newly elected Chief Minister of Delhi, representing the Awami Party (AAP). She is the only woman in the Delhi Cabinet and the youngest serving Chief Minister of India.

Early life and education

Atishi’s parents, Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi, are both teachers at Delhi University. She completed her schooling at Springdales School, New Delhi and graduated with first class honours in history from St Stephen’s College, New Delhi in 2001. She then went on to study at Oxford University and completed her first Master’s degree in 2003 on a Chevening Scholarship. In 2005, she completed her second Master’s degree in Educational Studies as a Rhodes Scholar.

Political career

Aatish joined the Awami League Party (AAP) in January 2013 and has played a key role in policy making and activism. She rose to prominence during the anti-corruption movement and participated in campaigns like the water non-violent non-cooperation movement in Madhya Pradesh. In 2019, she contested the Lok Sabha elections but lost to Gautam Gambhir from the BJP. However, she won the Kalkaji parliamentary constituency in the 2020 Delhi assembly elections, defeating her opponent by more than 11,000 votes. Here are some of the major achievements of her career- Education Reforms: Aatish is known for her approach to education reforms in the Delhi Public School system. She launched ‘Mission Buniyaad’ with the main goal of improving learning literacy and digital proficiency among students. She also brought new courses such as the ‘Happiness Course’ and the ‘Entrepreneurial Thinking Course’; aimed at improving the welfare of students and developing their capabilities.

Increased Budget Allocation: During her tenure, a substantial increase in expenditure on education was seen, which helped government schools in Delhi to improve their infrastructure and facilities.

Improvement in Teacher Training: Atishi has been working towards improving teacher training so that teachers are better equipped to provide quality education. This has also played a major role in improving the overall quality of teaching in schools across Delhi.

Providing Free Resources: She supported the agenda of distributing free textbooks and even school uniforms to students, which greatly helped in alleviating the cost of school uniforms for students, thus encouraging them to go to school.

In charge of multiple portfolios: Currently, Atish is in charge of 14 important portfolios in the Delhi government, such as finance, education, public works, power and water. Such a wide range of responsibilities indicates her level of involvement in the cabinet and shows her ability to handle different aspects of power as a leader.

Advocate for students’ rights: She has been a vocal advocate for better conditions and career opportunities for students and teachers in the education sector.

Crisis Management: Atish has always led by example, especially during crises like the protests in Delhi against the water crisis. Her high profile during these events ensures that people do not forget about basic services that should be provided to them, as the public might otherwise neglect them.

As a minister, Atish held several important portfolios, including finance, education, public works and power. She led education reforms in Delhi public schools and introduced a new curriculum aimed at improving students’ emotional intelligence.

Latest News

On September 17, 2024, Aatish was elected Chief Minister after Arvind Kejriwal resigned for legal reasons. She has played a leading role in the party during the transition period and is expected to lead the government until the next election.