Meira Kumar elected first woman Speaker

In June this year, Meira Kumar made history in the Lok Sabha when she was unanimously elected its Speaker: Becoming the first woman to occupy one of the highest Constitutional posts.

Sixty four-year-old Kumar is the Congress' Dalit face. She has earlier served as a foreign service official and a Union Minister.

Elected from Sasaram in Bihar in the recent elections, Meira Kumar is the daughter of former Deputy Prime Minister and prominent dalit leader, late Babu Jagjivan Ram.

After Kumar took the Chair, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hailed her election as a historic moment and said her services as a distinguished diplomat, 25 years in Parliament and her role as a Minister would stand her in good stead to execute her onerous job well. On her first day in office, she received a compliment from RJD president Lalu Prasad for the sweetness of her voice. E Ahmed, Minister of State for Railways, said: "This is the first time we have a mother of the House."