Sdn. Harjinder Kaur
Sdn. Harjinder Kaur, former Mayor, Chandigarh and a social activist, was born in February 1960 in
Punjab. She completed her education with a post graduate degree in Political Science and a B.Ed. degree.
She entered into Politics of Punjab in 1966 when she was elected as a Municipal Counselor from SAD.
She was also a member of the SGPC from Chandigarh. The unexpected circumstances brought her to the
forefront and she was elected as the sixth Mayor of the City of Chandigarh. In fact she was the first Akali
(Badal group) to hold the prestigious post of Mayor. During her short span of Mayorship, she emphasized
upon the cleanliness of the city. What makes her a role-model among the Sikhs, particularly for the Sikh
women, is not her short stint as a Mayor, but her overall personality as a politician, as a lover of arts and
as a Gursikh. As a politician, she is fair, honest and a dedicated worker. She has been a great lover of arts
which is evidenced by the fact that she has been the Chairperson of Punjab Sangeet and Natak Academy.
She even acted in a film named ‘Ek Noor’ A great champion of women empowerment as she is, she was the
sole representative from India as Deputy Mayor of the city in 1999, in the international meet on women
empowerment and social structure at Glasgow in the United Kindom. As a Sikh, she takes keen interest
in Sikh affairs and activities. In addition to being a member of SGPC she has been the president of the
International Sikh Forum and a former member of the Dharam Prachar Committee appointed by former
SGPC Chief Bibi Jagir Kaur. She propagates Sikh religion through her self example, by giving lectures and
also by participating in important functions and discussions on Sikh issues. She loves her mother tongue
Punjabi and always keeps her nameplate written in her mother tongue. The role-model Sikh lady had been
honoured by various organizations including institute of Sikh studies and Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable
Society (2014). She lives in Chandigarh.
