Press Trust of India India’s first woman IAS officer post-Independence, Anna Rajam Malhotra, died at her residence in suburban Andheri, her family sources said.

She was 91. The last rites were performed in the city, they said. She was born as Anna Rajam George in Kerala’s Ernakulum district in July 1927. She shifted to Chennai after her schooling in Kozhikode to pursue higher education at the University of Madras.

Malhotra joined the Civil Services in 1951 and opted for the Madras cadre. She then served in the Madras State under Chief Minister C Rajagopalachari.

She is also known for her contribution in setting up the country’s modern port Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) near Mumbai.

In 1989, she was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award.

comment COMMENT NOW