It is a relief that Indian women are no longer considered as show pieces to be kept at home. Some strong, determined women have broken the stereotypes and paved their way on domestic grounds and in the international sphere. With the impact of globalisation, successful women are making a huge blow in their respective fields. Women are now striking an excellent balance between home and career.
Here is a list of popular women leaders who have helped humankind tremendously.
This Indian entrepreneur is the chairperson of the Bangalore-based company Biocon Limited, founded with a capital of Rs.10,000 in her garage in 1978. Her application for bank loan was rejected for three reasons – biotechnology was then a new word, the company lacked assets, women entrepreneurs were still a rarity. The initial aim of the company was to extract an enzyme from papaya. Today she is the CMD of India’s largest publicly traded biopharma organization. In 2014 her net worth was Rs. 16,347,463. In the same year, she was awarded the Othmer Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to the progress of science and chemistry. She holds the 92nd position in Forbes most powerful women.
This 53-year-old entrepreneur from Jodhpur is one of the leading ladies in India’s banking sector. She started her career as a Management Trainee with ICICI in the year 1984. She then successfully rose to hold the position of managing director and Chief executive officer of ICICI Bank. She is well known for shaping India’s banking retail sector and making ICICI gain many recognitions. She was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2011 and was also conferred with the ‘Business Woman of the Year’ 2005 by The Economic Times of India. With a package of Rs. 52,282,644, she is ranked at the 20th position by Forbes.
3. Nita Ambani
Wife of India’s richest industrialist Mukesh Ambani, she is the Chairperson of Reliance Foundation and director of Reliance Industries. Reliance Foundation’s flagship program Bharat India Jodo (BIJ), is an attempt at capacity building and rural transformation. She is also the Chairperson of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School. She runs an NGO called Dhirubhai foundation, which works to better the educational and health facilities for the underprivileged in India. The 13 schools she owns teach over 15000 children. Reliance Foundation has touched over 4.5 million lives to date. She was honored with ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in April 2015 by AIMA.
4. Barkha Dutt
Barkha Dutt is an Indian television journalist and columnist, as well as a group editor with NDTV. She is recognized for her daring coverage in the dangerous conditions of the Kargil War. She has also reported the events of 2002 Gujarat violence and the Mumbai attacks of Taj Mahal Hotel and Oberoi Trident in 2008. She was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, for her live coverage in Tsunami 2004. Along with Padma Shri, she has also received awards like the TV Personality of the year and Best TV News Anchor (English) for her program.
5. Medha Patkar
She is a 60-year-old social activist and reformer turned politician. She came into the limelight as the founder of the famous Narmada Bachao Andolan to save the rivers and people of Gujarat. She was also a part of Lavasa project by Hindustan Construction Corporation in Maharashtra. Medha Patkar was an active member who fought against corruption along with Anna Hazare. She has gained many laurels, including the Mahatma Phule Award and Green Ribbon Award by BBC for Best International Political Campaigner.
Women like these are an inspiration and motivation to all those still unsung heroes who thrive to become and achieve great heights in different walks of life. These women have changed the perspective of Indian women at every level and the way they were perceived in society.