Women Achievers of My Country

Honourable Dignitaries, Worthy teachers and fellow students, Greeting to all of you.

Today on this occasion I will speak about women achievers of our country.

Indian society is filled with innumerable names of women that have made a mark for themselves in many fields.

Some of them are popular and have wide following while some are totally unnoticed and lost in the long list of women achievers that India has produced.

Today, I will try to bring out the names of some of the most popular Indian women who many of us younger generations might not know.

Tpoic/Essay for Students: Women Achievers of My Country; Mufawad

1. Lata Mangeshkar: She was the most respected playback singers of the Hindi film industry with her career spanning over a period of six and a half decade.  She also received the Bharat Ratna award, the highest civilian award of India. Her voice, even today, captivates the mind and hearts of people.

2. Medha Patkar: She is a social reformer and activist and has been  working for the cause of the poor people that were affected by the construction of Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river, in Gujarat. Her movement is known as Narmada Bachao Aandolan. Medha Patkar was the recipient of the Right Livelihood Award in the year 1991.

3. Menaka Gandhi:  Menaka Gandhi is credited to becoming the India's youngest minister at the age of 33 in the year 1983. She is an animal activist and social reformer. As the Minister for Environment and Forests, she established the Animal Welfare Board of India.

4. Kiran Bedi: She is the first woman IPS officer of India and is one of the great examples of women empowerment and strong determination. She was DIG of Police in Mizoram, Advisor to L.G of Chandigarh, DIG of Narcotics Control Bureau, Civilian Police Advisor in UN peacekeeping operations. For her outstanding work in the UN, she received a UN medal. Kiran Bedi has received more than 35 different awards including Presidents Gallantry Award in 1979.

5. Droupadi Murmu: She is a politician and former teacher who is serving as current President of India since 2022. She is the first person belonging to the tribal community and also the second woman after Pratibha Patil to hold the office.

Previously, she served as the 8th Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021, as a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur Assembly constituency from 2000 to 2009. Before entering politics, she worked as a clerk in the State Irrigation and Power Department from 1979 to 1983, and then as a teacher in Rairangpur from 1994 until 1997.

6. Kalpana Chawla: She was the first Indian to go in space in 1997. She died in the space ship crash. Kalpana received Congressional Space Medal of Honour, NASA Distinguished Service Medal and NASA Space Flight Medal posthumously.

7.Bachendri Pal: Born on 24 May, 1954, she is the first Indian woman to have climbed Mount Everest.

8. Sania Mirza:  She is one of India's highest rated female tennis player ever. Sania is also the first Indian female player to earn more than US $1 million in her career, first Indian to acclaim WTA tour title, and also became the first female Indian to win a Grand Slam title.

9. MC Mary Kom: Mary Kom won the bronze medal at London Olympics 2012. The most interesting fact is that she is a five-time World Boxing champion . She recieved Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Ajuna Award, Khel Ratna Award and People of the year-Limca Book of Records 2007.

10. Barkha Dutt: She is one of the best known faces on the Indian television news channels. She came into the limelight during the Kargil war, when her coverage and reporting of the on-field situation was applauded by one and all. She has won various national and international awards with Padma Shri, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association award for Journalist of the year in 2007 and the "TV Personality of the year"  award.

11.  Last but not least, the Nirbhaya: Nirbhaha also known as Jyoti singh was the girl with immense will power and strength that needs special mention because she is not just a victim, but is actually    a symbol of rising women power and inspiration .  It was because of her that today India's finance minister has promised a special Nirbhaya fund and an all women bank that would benefit millions of unemployed and downtrodden women. Salute to Nirbhaya for showing the right path and instilling fearlessness among the women of India.

Thank You.