Meherhospital: general update citations based on references and improved wording to improve readability

2026-01-08T02:40:41Z

general update citations based on references and improved wording to improve readability

->Billjones94 at 17:34, 9 December 2021

2021-12-09T17:34:24Z

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{{short description|Former First Lady of India}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Vimala Sharma
| image =
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Official Portrait
| office = [[First Ladies and Gentlemen of India|First Lady of India]]
| term_label = In role
| term_start = July 25, 1992
| term_end = July 25, 1997
| predecessor = [[Janaki Venkataraman]]
| successor = [[Usha Narayanan]]
| president = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| office2 = Minister of State<br> [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]]
| term_start2 = March 6, 1993
| term_end2 = May 16, 1996
| predecessor2 = [[Pushpa Shah]]
| successor2 = [[L. K. Advani]]
| primeminister2 = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| office3 = [[Spouse of the Vice President of India|Second Lady of India]]
| term_label3 = In role
| term_start3 = September 3, 1987
| term_end3 = July 24, 1992
| vicepresident3 = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| predecessor3 = [[Janaki Venkataraman]]
| successor3 = [[Usha Narayanan]]
| office4 = [[List of Governors of Maharashtra|First Lady of Maharashtra]]
| term_start4 = 3 April 1986
| term_end4 =2 September 1987
| Governor4 = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = c. 1927
| birth_place =
| death_date = August 15, 2020 (age 93)
| death_place = [[Bhopal]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| spouse = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]] (?–1999; ''his death'')
| children =
| relations =
| residence =
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| profession =
| awards =
| signature =
}}

'''Vimala Devi Sharma''' (c. 1927 – August 15, 2020) was an Indian [[social worker]], [[women's rights activist]], and politician. Sharma served as the [[First Lady of India]] from 1992 to 1997 and the [[Spouse of the Vice President of India|Second Lady of India]] from 1987 until 1992 during the tenures of her husband, the late [[President of India|President]] [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]. She was also elected to the [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] in 1985, representing the [[Udaipura]] constituency, and headed the [[Madhya Pradesh]] Social Welfare Board for several terms.<ref name="nr243"/>

Sharma died in August 2020 while recovering from [[COVID-19]].<ref name="nr243"/><ref name=n18/>

==Early life==
Vimala Sharma was originally from [[Rajasthan]] and spent most of her early life in [[Jaipur]].<ref name=it>{{cite news |title=Outgoing President S.D. Sharma finally decides to settle down in Delhi |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19970707-utgoing-president-s.d.-sharma-finally-decides-to-settle-down-in-delhi-832608-1997-07-07 |work=[[India Today]] |date=1997-07-07 |access-date=2020-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905022351/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19970707-utgoing-president-s.d.-sharma-finally-decides-to-settle-down-in-delhi-832608-1997-07-07 |archive-date=2020-09-05 |url-status=live}}</ref> She married [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]], who later became President of India from 1992 to 1997.

Sharma was a [[social worker]] by profession.<ref name="nr243"/> She headed the Madhya Pradesh Social Welfare Board, which oversees social services in the state, for several terms.<ref name="nr243"/>

In 1985, Vimala Sharma was elected to the [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]], representing [[Udaipura]], as a member of the [[Indian National Congress]] party.<ref name="nr243"/> Sharma became the first female MLA to hold the Udaipura seat in its history.<ref name=naidunia>{{cite news |title=1985 में उदयपुरा सीट से जिले की पहली महिला MLA बनी थी विमला देवी शर्मा |url=https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/raisen-vimala-devi-sharma-became-the-first-female-mla-of-the-district-from-udaipur-seat-in1985-6145769 |work=Naidunia |date=2020-08-16 |access-date=2020-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906221657/https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/raisen-vimala-devi-sharma-became-the-first-female-mla-of-the-district-from-udaipur-seat-in1985-6145769 |archive-date=2020-09-06 |url-status=live}}</ref> (Her husband, Shankar Dayal Sharma, was also elected as the first MLA from the same Udaipura seat upon the district's creation in 1962).<ref name=naidunia/> She declined to seek re-election to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly after her husband became [[Vice President of India]].<ref name=naidunia/>

Towards the end of his presidency, Vimala and Shankar Dayal Sharma, who lived in [[Bhopal]], began to discuss where they would live after his retirement from office.<ref name=it/> First Lady Vimala Sharma advocated for a move to her hometown on Jaipur, which had better hospitals and medical facilities than Bhopal, as her husband was in declining health at the time.<ref name=it/> However, the couple ultimately chose to retire to a home in [[Delhi]].<ref name=it/> Former President Shankar Dayal Sharma died on December 26, 1999, just 2 years after leaving office .<ref name=inembdc>{{cite news |title=Former President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma passes away |url=https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/ArchivesDetails?id=231 |work=[[Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.]] |date=1999-12-27 |access-date=2020-09-05 }}</ref>

Vimala Sharma remained highly involved in social and charitable organizations throughout her later life, especially in the [[Bhopal district|Bhopal]] and [[Raisen district]]s, according to [[Madhya Pradesh]] Chief Minister [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]].<ref name=n18/>

In June 2020, Sharma developed breathing difficulties, a symptom of [[COVID-19]]. She exhibited low oxygen levels on June 5 and tested positive for COVID-19 on June 6, 2020.<ref name=indx>{{cite news |first=Astha |last=Saxena |title=Wife of former President Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma recovers from coronavirus at 93 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/wife-of-former-president-recovers-from-virus-at-93-discharged-from-aiims-6476728/ |work=[[Indian Express]] |date=2020-06-26 |access-date=2020-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807010411/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/wife-of-former-president-recovers-from-virus-at-93-discharged-from-aiims-6476728/ |archive-date=2020-08-07 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sharma was immediately admitted to the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi|AIIMS Trauma Centre]] in [[New Delhi]], where she was treated for COVID-19 for 18 days.<ref name=indx/> Her condition continued to deteriorate for the first four days of her hospitalization before she began to show some improvement to her health.<ref name=indx/> Sharma received high flow oxygen through a [[nasal cannula]] and was given antibiotics, but was not placed on a [[ventilator]].<ref name=indx/> She was discharged from AIIMS Hospital on June 25, 2020, but still required 2-3 litres of nasal oxygen per hour during her recovery.<ref name=indx/> Vimala Sharma, who was 93-years old at the time of her diagnosis and hospitalization, was one of the oldest coronavirus patients to be released fr om the hospital in [[COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi|Dehli during the pandemic]], though she never completely recovered from the illness.<ref name=indx/>

Vimala Sharma died in [[Bhopal]] on August 15, 2020, at the age of 93, less than 2 months after her hospitalization for COVID-19.<ref name="nr243"/><ref name=n18>{{cite news |title=VP Venkaiah Naidu, MP CM Shivraj Chouhan Condole Death of Former President Shankar Dayal Sharma's Wife |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/vp-venkaiah-naidu-mp-cm-shivraj-chouhan-condole-death-of-former-president-shankar-dayal-sharmas-wife-2790581.html |work=[[Network18 Group]] |date=2020-08-15 |access-date=2020-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906223858/https://www.news18.com/news/india/vp-venkaiah-naidu-mp-cm-shivraj-chouhan-condole-death-of-former-president-shankar-dayal-sharmas-wife-2790581.html |archive-date=2020-09-06 |url-status=live}}</ref> Indian President [[Ram Nath Kovind]] tweeted his condolences, writing, "Sad to hear about the demise of Mrs. Vimala Sharma, wife of former President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma. My condolences to his family and loved ones."<ref name="nr243"/> [[Vice President of India|Vice President]] [[Venkaiah Naidu]] and [[List of Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh|Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh]] [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]] also sent public condolences.<ref name="nr243"/><ref name=n18/>

==First Lady of Maharashtra (1987–1988)==
Shamra served as the First Lady of the State of Maharashtra during the Tenure of her Husband as in the Governor of Maharashtra for a one year Term.

==Second Lady of India (1987–1992)==
Sharma succeeded the Office of Second Lady of India immediately after the office of the Governor Spouse for full fleged 5 year term.

==First Lady of India (1992–1997)==
Sharma Served as the [[First Lady of India]] during the tenure of her husband, the Former President [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]. Much of her work focused on women's rights.<ref name="nr243">{{cite news|date=2020-08-15|title=Former President Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma's wife Vimala Sharma is no more|work=Newsroom 24x7 Network|url=https://newsroom24x7.com/2020/08/15/former-president-dr-shankar-dayal-sharmas-wife-vimala-sharma-is-no-more/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905011928/https://newsroom24x7.com/2020/08/15/former-president-dr-shankar-dayal-sharmas-wife-vimala-sharma-is-no-more/|archive-date=2020-09-05}}</ref> During her time as First Lady, Sharma also simultaneously served as Minister of State of the [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]] from 1993 to 1996 and Minister of State for the [[Ministry of Women and Child Development]] from 1993 until 1996.

She was also elected to the [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] in 1985, representing the [[Udaipura]] constituency, and headed the [[Madhya Pradesh]] Social Welfare Board for several terms.<ref name="nr243"/>

==Death==
In June 2020, Sharma developed breathing difficulties, a symptom of [[COVID-19]]. She exhibited low oxygen levels on June 5 and tested positive for COVID-19 on June 6, 2020.<ref name="indx3">{{cite news|last=Saxena|first=Astha|date=2020-06-26|title=Wife of former President Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma recovers from coronavirus at 93|work=[[Indian Express]]|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/wife-of-former-president-recovers-from-virus-at-93-discharged-from-aiims-6476728/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807010411/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/wife-of-former-president-recovers-from-virus-at-93-discharged-from-aiims-6476728/|archive-date=2020-08-07}}</ref> Sharma was immediately admitted to the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi|AIIMS Trauma Centre]] in [[New Delhi]], where she was treated for COVID-19 for 18 days.<ref name="indx3" /> Her condition continued to deteriorate for the first four days of her hospitalization before she began to show some improvement to her health.<ref name="indx3" /> Sharma received high flow oxygen through a [[nasal cannula]] and was given antibiotics, but was not placed on a [[ventilator]].<ref name="indx3" /> She was discharged from AIIMS Hospital on June 25, 2020, but still required 2-3 litres of nasal oxygen per hour during her recovery.<ref name="indx3" /> Vimala Sharma, who was 93-years old at the time of her diagnosis and hospitalization, was one of the oldest coronavirus patients to be released from the hospital in [[COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi|Dehli during the pandemic]], though she never completely recovered from the illness.<ref name="indx3" />

Vimala Sharma died in [[Bhopal]] on August 15, 2020, at the age of 93, less than 2 months after her hospitalization for COVID-19.<ref name="nr243"/><ref name="n183">{{cite news|date=2020-08-15|title=VP Venkaiah Naidu, MP CM Shivraj Chouhan Condole Death of Former President Shankar Dayal Sharma's Wife|work=[[Network18 Group]]|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/vp-venkaiah-naidu-mp-cm-shivraj-chouhan-condole-death-of-former-president-shankar-dayal-sharmas-wife-2790581.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906223858/https://www.news18.com/news/india/vp-venkaiah-naidu-mp-cm-shivraj-chouhan-condole-death-of-former-president-shankar-dayal-sharmas-wife-2790581.html|archive-date=2020-09-06}}</ref> Indian President [[Ram Nath Kovind]] tweeted his condolences, writing, "Sad to hear about the demise of Mrs. Vimala Sharma, wife of former President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma. My condolences to his family and loved ones."<ref name="nr243"/> [[Vice President of India|Vice President]] [[Venkaiah Naidu]] and [[List of Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh|Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh]] [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]] also sent public condolences.<ref name="nr243"/><ref name="n183" /><ref name="n18" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Vimala}}
[[Category:Date of birth missing]]
[[Category:1920s births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:First Ladies and Gentlemen of India]]
[[Category:Second Ladies and Gentlemen of India]]
[[Category:Madhya Pradesh MLAs 1985–1990]]
[[Category:Women in Madhya Pradesh politics]]
[[Category:Women members of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Jaipur]]
[[Category:People from Bhopal]]
[[Category:People from Raisen district]]
[[Category:People from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]

Vimala Sharma - Revision history

Meherhospital: general update citations based on references and improved wording to improve readability

->Billjones94 at 17:34, 9 December 2021