At 74, Najma Heptulla is the oldest minister and the only Muslim face in the Narendra Modi Cabinet. She has been five time member of Rajya Sabha, the Upper House, between 1986 and 2012, and is best known for her role as Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha for 16 years.
Dr Najma was born in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) and is highly educated holding both a Masters’ of Science Degree in Zoology, and a Ph.D. in Cardiac Anatomy from the University of Denver. Though she is a well recognized woman at the international level, her nomination by the United Nations Development Programme as its human development ambassador stands apart among the list of achievements. She also led a delegation to the UN Commission on Status of Women in 1997. Dr. Heptulla has authored book on AIDS titled ‘AIDS: Approaches to Prevention’. She has also written on human social security, sustainable development, environment, reforms for women and on ties between India and West Asia. She started her political career by leading the All India Congress Committee and the NSUI and eventually climbed up the ladder at Indian National Congress. In 2004, she left the Indian National Congress party due to the problems with the party leadership (Sonia Gandhi) and joined Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2007, BJP-led NDA fielded her as a candidate in the elections for the Vice President of India, which was won by Hamid Ansari. Dr. Najma Heptulla is a grand-niece of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a prominent Indian freedom fighter, a strong proponent of united India, and its first Minister of Education after Independence. She is also a second cousin to prominent Indian actor Aamir Khan. She was nominated by the BJP for the upper house, Rajya Sabha in 2012 from Madhya Pradesh, and assumed her office on 24 April 2012.
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