11 Facts About Marijke Djwalapersad

Marijke Indradebie Djwalapersad is a Surinamese politician who served as Chairperson of the National Assembly of Suriname from 1996 until 2000.

Marijke Djwalapersad was the first women to serve as chairperson.

In 1999, Djwalapersad founded the political party Naya Kadam, but was not re-elected.

Marijke Djwalapersad was born in the Saramacca Polder on 28 December 1951.

Marijke Djwalapersad was active as a translator in Hindi, English, Sarnami, Sranan Tongo and Dutch.

Marijke Djwalapersad was first elected to the National Assembly in 1996.

On 10 October 1996, Marijke Djwalapersad was elected Chairperson of the National Assembly of Suriname, and was the first women to serve as chairperson.

In 1999, Marijke Djwalapersad founded the political party Naya Kadam, but remained chairperson.

Marijke Djwalapersad was not re-elected during the 2000 elections, and Jagernath Lachmon was chosen as the new chair.

Marijke Djwalapersad would become the only female chairperson of the Sanatan Dharm Foundation, an organisation for practitioners of the Sanatani faction of Hinduism.

In 2019, Marijke Djwalapersad was awarded the Golden Gavel Award by the Platform Politically Active Women.