NAARI: September Edition: Dr (Mrs) Lata Singh

Ananya Chaturvedi | The 15 A Chronicles' Desk

Dr. (Mrs.) LATA SINGH: A celebrated civil servant, a dynamic lady, and an exceptional personality of 15 A

Dr. Singh

कीर्तिः श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा

This verse from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita gives the ideal attributes of an accomplished lady: distinction, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, integrity, and compassion. Dr. (Mrs.) Lata Singh is undoubtedly one such example. At 23, she became one of the youngest civil servants in the country. Not only that, she was also the only lady in the entire batch of IAS officers that year.

BA Hons, Awarded by CJI Sudhir Ranjan Das, for standing First

Born in U.P., she was one among four sisters and a brother. Both her parents were Double Law Graduates and emphasized on higher education for their children, resulting in all of them pursuing top-flight careers and excelling in their chosen fields.

MA Degree Gold Medalist

Dr Singh obtained her master's degree in Mathematics from Delhi University, as a double Gold Medalist, and PhD from IIT Delhi. In 1958, she joined Lady Shri Ram College as a lecturer. After working there for a while, she realized the limitations of that field and wished to pursue something more challenging and that is how she qualified for the IAS batch of 1961. She was offered the IFS, being among the top 20 qualifiers, but she opted for the IAS. She describes her training period in the Lal Bahadur Shastri Training Academy, Mussoorie, as a valuable experience where she benefitted from interactions with top intellectuals and eminences.

As Joint Secy, CSIR, managing the relief operations after the Bhopal Gas tragedy

Since her first posting in Aligarh as a Joint Magistrate in 1962, among the many achievements of her distinguished career was working directly with the PMO to successfully set up a wide network of organisations for Women's Empowerment in J&K. This was one of the important measures of the government to stabilize a highly volatile environment at the height of the insurgency.

Her advice to young aspirants is that success is not limited to material gains. Still, it is the pursuit of one’s entire intellectual and emotional potential and that should be the driving force.

Dr. Singh with her grandson, Aditya

Rapid Fire

1. Favourite Food: Fresh Fruits

2. Favourite Music: compositions by Pt. Jasraj

3. Favourite Book: Ram Charit Manas, The Age of Napoleon

4. Favorite Movie: Dev Das, Sujata, & Bandini

5. Favourite Game: Bridge