The following women have smashed the proverbial glass ceiling and managed to create a name for themselves!! Here are a few examples of empowerment:
Social activist Aruna Roy has spent over 40 years advocating for the rights of India’s rural poor. A former civil servant, she co-founded the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), an organization committed to promoting transparency, fair wages, and government accountability. Her contributions played a crucial role in the enactment of India’s Right to Information Act in 2005. As the president of the National Federation of Indian Women, Ms. Roy remains actively involved in grassroots movements. Earlier this year, she published her memoir, The Personal is Political.
Squadron Leader Avani Chaturvedi, born on October 27, 1993, in Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh, is an Indian pilot. She made history as one of India’s first female combat pilots, alongside Mohana Singh Jitarwal and Bhawana Kanth. The trio joined the Indian Air Force’s fighter squadron in June 2016 and were officially commissioned by then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on June 18, 2016, marking a significant milestone in India’s military history.
Gita Gopinath has been serving as the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since January 21, 2022. In this role, she supervises staff operations, represents the IMF at global forums, engages with member governments, Board members, the media, and other institutions, and leads the Fund’s efforts in surveillance, policy development, research, and key publications. Previously, she was the IMF’s Chief Economist from 2019 to 2022, acting as the Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department.
Pooja Sharma has redefined societal norms by performing funerary rites for unclaimed bodies – a role traditionally reserved for men in Hindu culture – in Delhi. Her mission began after the death of her brother, whose final rites she had to perform alone.
She is the founder of “Bright the Soul” Foundation and in the past three years, Ms Sharma has conducted over 4,000 last rites for people from various religions.
Vinesh Phogat, a three-time Olympian and one of India’s most accomplished wrestlers, has been a vocal advocate against gender discrimination in sports. She has won medals at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.
This year, she became the first Indian female wrestler to reach an Olympic final but was disqualified for exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams. Following this setback, she announced her retirement from wrestling and transitioned into politics. Renowned for challenging gender stereotypes, Ms. Phogat played a key role in a high-profile protest by Indian wrestlers against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexually harassing female athletes—a charge he denied…- Written by: G Chandrika, II MA English Literature, Dr. NGP Arts & Science College
