Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha was an Indian electrical engineer, recognised as one of the earliest women in India to qualify and practise in the engineering profession. She is generally cited as the first woman engineer to graduate from an Indian engineering institution.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Electrical engineer |
Background
Lalitha pursued a formal training in electrical engineering at a time when the discipline in India was almost entirely composed of men. Her decision to enter engineering education and subsequently the profession placed her among a very small group of pioneering women technologists in mid-twentieth century India.
Career
Lalitha worked as an electrical engineer in India. She is remembered for her contribution to opening the engineering profession to women in the country, both through her own qualification and through her continued professional practice.
Significance
Her career is frequently cited in historical accounts of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in India. As an early female entrant into electrical engineering, she is regarded as a role model for subsequent generations of women engineers in the country.
Related topics
- Women in Engineering in India
- Electrical Engineering
- History of Engineering Education in India
- Women in STEM
References
- Wikidata entry: Q66770039