Sheila Dikshit

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sheila Dikshit

• Dikshit started her career in the early 1970s by becoming the Chairperson of Young Women’s Association.

• Before joining politics, she also worked as an executive secretary for Garment Exporters’ Association.

• Though she belonged to a Khatri Family (Kapoor), she did an inter-caste marriage with Vinod Dikshit, who was from a Brahmin family and was the son of Late Uma Shankar Dikshit, a renowned freedom fighter and former union cabinet minister.

• In 1990, she was jailed along with her 82 supporters for 23 days by the state government when she protested against the violence on women.

• She considered Sonia Gandhi as her inspiration.

• Her office house in the Motilal Nehru Marg, Delhi was famous for its fruit bats and semal (red silk-cotton) trees.

• After losing the Chief Minister seat, the then UPA Government appointed her the Governor of Kerala on 11 March 2014, but under the pressure of NDA government, she had to resign from the post on 25 August 2014.

• Though she had ups-and-downs during her 15 years tenure as the CM of Delhi, she gained immense respect for her quality of work, development-oriented and statesmanlike approach and easy availability.

• She loved reading Osho’s work.

• In July 2016, she was chosen as Congress’ Chief Minister Candidate for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative elections.

• On 20 July 2019, she died of Cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and other age-related ailments at Fortis Escorts Hospital in New Delhi.

• On 21 July 2019, the mortal remains of Sheila Dikshit were cremated at the CNG crematorium at Nigam Bodh Ghat in New Delhi.