Sushma Swaraj, Politician
Politician

Sushma Swaraj

Born 14 February 1952 · Haryana — Died 6 August 2019

Serving as India's Minister of External Affairs from 2014 to 2019, completing a full five-year term.

Sushma Swaraj was an Indian lawyer, politician and diplomat who served as the 5th Chief Minister of Delhi, and also the Minister of External Affairs of India in the First Modi ministry from 2014 to 2019. She was the second person to complete a 5-year term as the Minister of External Affairs, after Jawaharlal Nehru. A senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Swaraj was the second woman to hold the office of Minister of External Affairs, after Indira Gandhi. She was elected seven times as a Member of Parliament and three times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

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A detail that
surprised us

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In 2014, Sushma Swaraj became the most-liked and most-followed female Indian minister on Twitter, personally responding to thousands of individual requests for help from Indian citizens abroad.

The Story

1
At just 25 years old in 1977, Sushma Swaraj became India's youngest cabinet minister when she took charge as Haryana's Minister of Information and Broadcasting under the Janata Party government.
2
🌟 In 1998, she briefly served as the 5th Chief Minister of Delhi for 52 days, becoming the first woman to hold that office in the capital.
3In 1990, Swaraj broke new ground as the first female national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, shaping the party’s public communication during a politically volatile era.
4🎬 As Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting in 1998, she granted 'industry status' to the Indian film sector, enabling filmmakers to access formal bank financing and curtailing underworld money lending.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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At age 25 in 1977, Sushma Swaraj was appointed Haryana's Minister of Information and Broadcasting, making her the youngest cabinet minister in India at that time.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Audio pronunciation of Sushma Swaraj’s name from the Lingua Libre project (2021)
Audio pronunciation of Sushma Swaraj’s name from the Lingua Libre project (2021)
2021

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Ambala Cantonment, Haryana
Sushma Sharma was born into a Brahmin family with roots in Lahore; her father was an RSS member.
1952
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Career
Qualified as Supreme Court Advocate
After studying law at Panjab University, she began practicing at the Supreme Court of India.
1973
⚡
Career
Youngest Cabinet Minister of Haryana
At 25, appointed Minister of Information and Broadcasting in Haryana's Janata Party government.
1977
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Career
First Female BJP National Spokesperson
Broke gender barriers by becoming the BJP's first female spokesperson at the national level.
1990
⚡
Career
Became Chief Minister of Delhi
Served a brief 52-day term as Delhi's first woman Chief Minister.
1998
⚡
Career
Granted Industry Status to Bollywood
As Information and Broadcasting Minister, legitimized film industry financing.
1998
⚡
Career
Became Minister of External Affairs
Appointed External Affairs Minister in Narendra Modi's first cabinet, serving a full five-year term.
2014
🕊️
Death
Passed away in New Delhi
Died from a cardiac arrest while recovering from a kidney transplant.
2019
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 1998, she granted 'industry status' to the Indian film sector, which enabled filmmakers to obtain formal bank loans and curbed the influence of underworld financing.

02 / 06
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Sushma Swaraj was the first female national spokesperson of a major Indian political party, the BJP, in 1990, a role critical in shaping public discourse.

03 / 06
👤PERSONAL

She was awarded the Best Hindi Speaker for three consecutive years in a Haryana state-level competition during her college days.

“

"I am proud to be an Indian, and I will always cherish my country."

— Sushma Swaraj

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Sushma Swaraj reveals her biggest regret in politics
·YouTube
More from this archive
Sushma Swaraj reveals her biggest regret in politics
01
Sushma Swaraj reveals her biggest regret in politics
YouTube
Truth vs Hype: The Sushma Paradox
02
Truth vs Hype: The Sushma Paradox
YouTube
Sushma Swaraj A Great Orator : Watch Some Of Remarkable Speeches Made By Late Leader
03
Sushma Swaraj A Great Orator : Watch Some Of Remarkable Speeches Made By Late Leader
YouTube
Sushma Swaraj’s Fiery Speech From 1996
04
Sushma Swaraj’s Fiery Speech From 1996
YouTube
Sushma Swaraj: Fiesty Leader, Friendly Minister | Rare Interviews | Crux Files
05
Sushma Swaraj: Fiesty Leader, Friendly Minister | Rare Interviews | Crux Files
YouTube
PTV Interview with Smt. Sushma Swaraj: 8.03.2002
06
PTV Interview with Smt. Sushma Swaraj: 8.03.2002
YouTube
Sushma Swaraj In Parliament (Full Speech)
07
Sushma Swaraj In Parliament (Full Speech)
YouTube
Sushma Swaraj | Member of Parliament | आधिकारिक और व्यक्तिगत जीवन में सम्मान...
08
Sushma Swaraj | Member of Parliament | आधिकारिक और व्यक्तिगत जीवन में सम्मान...
YouTube
TIMES NOW Exclusive: Interview with Sushma Swaraj
09
TIMES NOW Exclusive: Interview with Sushma Swaraj
YouTube
Sushma Swaraj Speech | 40th Anniversary Of US-India Business Council | John Kerry | Joe Biden
10
Sushma Swaraj Speech | 40th Anniversary Of US-India Business Council | John Kerry | Joe Biden
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Sushma Swaraj’s decision to grant industry status to Bollywood transformed film financing, allowing filmmakers to secure bank loans and reducing reliance on illegal funding. Her tenure as External Affairs Minister introduced real-time, personalized diplomatic assistance via social media, setting a new standard for citizen engagement in Indian diplomacy. This model influenced how Indian embassies worldwide handle consular emergencies and labor welfare schemes.

💬 Social Buzz

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