 After
Indira Nooyi another woman of Indian background has done the nation proud. In a rare distinction, Dr Chitra Bharucha, an India-born haematologist, has been appointed the acting chairperson of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), becoming the first woman and first Asian to head the giant
organisation.
Chitra shifted from a career in medicine to media in 1996 when she joined
the BBC Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland, a position she stayed in
till 2003.
The post of the chairperson of BBC fell vacant following the resignation of
Michael Grade after he decided to join the rival organisation, ITV.
Born in Madurai, Chitra has lived in Britain since 1972. A haematologist
by profession, she has served as deputy director, Northern Ireland Blood
Transfusion Service, and consultant clinical haematologist, Belfast City
Hospital.
In 2004, Chitra was appointed to the Advertising Standards Authority
(Broadcast) Council, where she currently chairs the advisory committee on
animal feeding stuffs for the Food Standards Agency.
Chitra is described by those who've worked with her in the past as a "capable pair of
hands". Just weeks ago, she was named vice-chairperson of the newly-formed BBC Trust,
a brand new body set up to take over and extend the traditional function of the corporation's governors.
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