21 July - Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world’s first female Prime Minister of a country

 

On 21 July 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike made global history by becoming the world’s first female Prime Minister, when she was sworn in as the head of government of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Her appointment was a groundbreaking moment in the political history of the 20th century, breaking gender barriers in a field overwhelmingly dominated by men.

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👩‍⚖️ Background:

Sirimavo was the widow of Solomon Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Ceylon who was assassinated in 1959. Following his death, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which he had founded, was left without a strong leader. Sirimavo, already respected as the wife of a national figure, was urged by party members to enter politics.

Though she had no prior political office, she took over leadership of the SLFP in 1960 and led the party to victory in the general elections held in July 1960.

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🗳️ Election & Leadership:

• Under her leadership, the SLFP won 75 out of 151 seats in Parliament.

• On July 21, 1960, she was sworn in as Prime Minister, succeeding Dudley Senanayake.

• She became not only the first female prime minister in Sri Lanka, but also the first woman in the world to hold the office of head of government in a parliamentary democracy.

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📜 Her Legacy:

• Sirimavo Bandaranaike served three terms as Prime Minister:

  • 1960–1965

  • 1970–1977

  • 1994–2000 (under her daughter, President Chandrika Kumaratunga)

• Her policies were strongly socialist and nationalist, including:

  • Nationalizing key industries and schools

  • Strengthening ties with China, India, and the Soviet bloc

  • Declaring Sri Lanka a republic in 1972 and changing its name from Ceylon

• She also faced challenges including ethnic tensions, economic decline, and political opposition.

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👩‍👧 Political Dynasty:

Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the matriarch of a powerful political family. Her daughter, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, later became President of Sri Lanka, making them one of the few mother-daughter pairs in the world to serve as head of state and head of government.

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🕊️ Death:

Sirimavo Bandaranaike passed away on October 10, 2000, at the age of 84, shortly after casting her vote in that year’s general elections.

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Her rise to power in 1960 remains a historic milestone for women in global politics, opening the door for future generations of female leaders across Asia and the world.

21 July - The Geneva Conference concludes, partitioning Vietnam into North and South

 

On 21 July  1954, the Geneva Conference officially concluded with the signing of the Geneva Accords, resulting in the partition of Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam. This was a pivotal moment in Cold War history and Southeast Asian geopolitics.

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🕊️ Background:

The Geneva Conference began in April 1954 in Geneva, Switzerland, with the goal of resolving two major conflicts:

• The First Indochina War between France and the Viet Minh in Vietnam.

• The ongoing Korean War armistice discussions.

The key participants included France, the Viet Minh (led by Ho Chi Minh), the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, China, and others. The conference took place just after the Viet Minh’s decisive victory at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, which marked the collapse of French colonial control in Indochina.

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📝 Key Outcomes of 21 July 1954:

1. Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th parallel:

   • North Vietnam: Controlled by the communist Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh.

   • South Vietnam: Under the non-communist State of Vietnam, supported by France and later the United States.

2. Nationwide elections were scheduled for July 1956 to unify the country under one government — though these elections were never held, largely due to U.S. and South Vietnamese opposition, fearing a communist victory.

3. Ceasefire agreements were also reached for Laos and Cambodia, granting both nations independence from French colonial rule.

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🇻🇳 Long-Term Impact:

• The Geneva Accords marked the end of French colonial rule in Indochina.

• However, the division of Vietnam set the stage for further conflict:

  • The rise of North-South tensions.

  • The eventual outbreak of the Vietnam War (also known as the Second Indochina War), which escalated into full U.S. military involvement in the 1960s.

• North Vietnam, backed by the Soviet Union and China, and South Vietnam, supported by the U.S. and its allies, became a focal point in the global Cold War.

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📜 Legacy:

The Geneva Conference of 1954 was seen as a short-term diplomatic achievement, but a long-term failure to establish peace in Vietnam. It highlighted the complexities of post-colonial nationalism, Cold War rivalries, and the limits of international diplomacy in divided regions.