The 43-year-old, who studied at St Stephen’s College and Oxford University and was a Rhodes Scholar, was one of the founding members of the Aam Aadmi Party and remained far away from the spotlight for many years before making her way to its edges and then to its very centre.
Education
Born to Delhi University professors Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi in June 1981, Atishi’s parents, who were believers in the communist ideology, gave her an unusual surname – Marlena, a portmanteau of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.
Here are the educational qualifications of Ms. Atishi Marlena Singh in points:
- Studied at Springdales School, New Delhi (Pusa Road)
- Bachelor’s degree in History from St Stephen’s University
- Topped her batch
- Graduated in 2001
- Master’s degree in History
- Completed in 2003
- Received through Chevening scholarship
- Studied at Magdalen College, Oxford
- As a Rhodes scholar
- Year: 2005 (two years after completing Master’s)
Political Entry
In January 2013, she became involved in policy formulation for the AAP, which has its roots in that movement.
She was closely involved with the Jal Satyagraha in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh 2015 and provided support to the AAP leader and activist spearheading the campaign Alok Agarwal during the historic protests, as well as during the legal battle that ensued. After the 2020 elections, she was made the AAP’s in-charge for its Goa unit.
Early Involvement and Education
- Founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
- Member of the 2013 AAP manifesto drafting committee
Career
- Adviser on education-related policies after AAP formed the government in Delhi
- Spent several years in a Madhya Pradesh village, focusing on:
- Organic farming
- Progressive education
Impact and Experience
- Experience in the village strengthened her dedication to political change
- Played a crucial role in shaping AAP’s education policies
Background
- Rhodes Scholar
- Studied at prestigious institutions:
- St. Stephen’s College
- Oxford University (Magdalen College)
Contesting Elections
The party gave Ms Atishi Marlena Singh a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls from New Delhi and, some time after she was declared the candidate, she decided to stop using her surname, Marlena. The party said the move was because the BJP, which had won all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in 2014, was trying to use her surname to polarise voters suggesting that she was a Christian or a foreigner.
The AAP leader lost to the BJP’s Gautam Gambhir by a margin of over 4.5 lakh votes in 2019, coming third behind the Congress candidate, Arvinder Singh Lovely.
2019 Lok Sabha Elections
Atishi Marlena Singh was appointed the Lok Sabha in-charge for East Delhi for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.[18] She contested from the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency as an AAP party candidate for the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. She lost to BJP’s candidate Gautam Gambhir by a margin of 4.77 lakh votes, coming in third.
2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election
She contested in the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election from Kalkaji constituency of South Delhi. She defeated Dharambir Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, by 11,422 votes.[19]
Achievements
The next year, Ms Atishi Marlena Singh contested the Assembly elections in Delhi from Kalkaji and won by a margin of over 11,000 votes.
In 2015, she was appointed an advisor to education minister Manish Sisodia and played a key role in the conceptualisation and implementation of the Happiness Curriculum, which was designed to increase the wellness of children and help “develop a holistic outlook and perspective on life”.
Atishi Marlena Singh has been a driving force in shaping Delhi’s education landscape. As a key member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), she’s helped bring several initiatives to life, including:
- Improving School Infrastructure: Upgrading Delhi government schools to provide better facilities for students.
- Regulating School Fees: Making it harder for schools to hike fees arbitrarily, ensuring education remains accessible.
- School Management Committees: Forming committees under the Right to Education Act to promote transparency and community involvement.
- Education Reforms: Leading reforms as Advisor to the Education Minister, Manish Sisodia, to enhance the quality of education.
- Nutrition Awareness: Advocating for nationwide awareness campaigns to educate families about healthy food choices and addressing malnutrition and obesity.
Her leadership skills and commitment to education have earned her recognition within the party. After becoming an AAP spokesperson in 2018, Atishi articulated the Delhi government’s policies and defended against criticisms . She gained prominence after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s arrest and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s custody in the Delhi liquor policy case .
Now, as the newly appointed Chief Minister of Delhi, Atishi will make history as the youngest and third woman to hold this position, following Sheila Dikshit and Sushma Swaraj
