Sarojini Mahishi, former Union Minister and first woman member of Parliament from Karnataka, passed away at her residence in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of Delhi, on Saturday night. She was 88. Though best remembered for the much-debated Sarojini Mahishi report she submitted to the Karnataka government in 1986, which recommended job reservation for Kannadigas, she was also an educationist and a literary figure of eminence. She was MP for Dharwad North constituency for four terms and also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha. She was Minister of State for Civil Aviation in the Indira Gandhi Ministry.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has mourned her death, describing her as a “brave woman who had deep love for Kannada language and the people of the State.” The much-quoted report submitted by a committee headed by her in 1986, which recommended job reservation to locals, however, has remained on paper.
