Atishi Marlena

Atishi was born to Delhi University professors Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi on 8 June 1981 in Punjabi Rajput family.[6][7] She was given the middle name 'Marlena' by her parents as a portmanteau of Marx and Lenin. As she grew up, she chose to use "Atishi" as her name, dropping her surname from daily use, since she wanted people to focus on her work rather than her lineage.[8][9] After being raised in Delhi, and finishing high school from Springdales School (Pusa Road), New Delhi,[10] Atishi graduated in history from St. Stephen's College, Delhi in 2001. Soon after, she went to the Oxford University and in 2003 she completed her master's degree in History on a Chevening scholarship.[11] In 2005 she went to Magdalen College, Oxford as a Rhodes scholar.[4][12]

Atishi spent some time teaching at Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh. She has also worked with the non-profit organisation Sambhavana Institute of Public Policy.[13]

Although always interested in public policy, Atishi observed the 2011 Indian Anti-corruption movement as a sceptical outsider, believing that single-issue campaigns were ineffective. In January 2013, she became involved in policy formulation for the AAP, which has its roots in that movement.[4]

She was closely involved with the Jal Satyagraha in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh 2015 and provided vital support to the AAP leader and activist spearheading the campaign Alok Agarwal during the historic protests, as well as during the legal battle that ensued.[14] After the 2020 elections, she was made the AAP's in-charge for its Goa unit.[15]

Atishi was also spearheading the flagship Mohalla Sabha Project for the Government of NCT of Delhi. The effort to decentralise governance to empower every citizen was a major promise of the AAP before coming to power.[18] The project was rejected by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in 2016.