The Remarkable Journey of Rabri Devi: From Housewife to Bihar's First Woman Chief Minister

Rabri Devi occupied the position of Chief Minister of Bihar across three non-consecutive terms spanning from 1997 to 2005.

Prior to that fateful Friday afternoon in July 1997, when Lalu Prasad Yadav informed her that she would be taking his place as Chief Minister of Bihar, Rabri Devi had minimal understanding of political affairs. Nothing illustrated this more clearly than her inaugural speech in the Bihar Assembly, which lasted barely a minute.

According to political commentators at the time, there were few alternatives available. A reserved housewife who had dedicated most of her life to raising nine children suddenly found herself thrust into the political limelight in one of India's most politically significant states.

The real authority, observers noted, remained with her husband, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, who had been compelled to resign following his arrest in the substantial fodder scam investigation.

Rabri Devi's political ascension was entirely unplanned. Married at just 14 years of age, she had received minimal education and no exposure beyond her domestic responsibilities. Lalu even needed to employ a tutor to teach her how to sign her name.

Her world had been confined to her Patna residence, not the administrative corridors of Bihar's Secretariat. Those who encountered her during her tenure as Chief Minister recall her visible discomfort: she often struggled to address governance questions, frequently repeating information whispered by aides. "I will do what my husband instructs," she would commonly state, referring to Lalu as her saheb. However, she also once assured the public, "I will do whatever my husband says but will not follow his wrong advice."

Critics dismissed her as merely a "rubber stamp," operating under her husband's control. In elite circles, she appeared out of place. Nevertheless, for millions of women from backward communities and rural areas, Rabri Devi's rise demonstrated that someone like them could attain Bihar's highest office.

Despite widespread skepticism, Rabri Devi endured. She became Bihar's first female Chief Minister, a distinction she alone holds to this day.

Born in 1955 in Gopalganj's Salarkalan village, Rabri Devi grew up in modest circumstances. She married Lalu Prasad in 1973. By the time she assumed the Chief Minister's position, she had nine children and remained more comfortable speaking her native Magahi dialect than formal Hindi.

However, describing her simply as a "rubber stamp" would be deeply unfair, as navigating the treacherous political environment of Bihar during that era was no small achievement.

As Chief Minister, she developed the ability to manage the state's challenging political landscape and outlasted critics who had dismissed her as merely an "illiterate housewife."