Navratri, a festival celebrating divine feminine power, sets the perfect stage to honor ten trailblazing Indian women who, from the 1930s to the 2020s, shattered barriers across diverse fields like art, advocacy, administration, politics, police, sports, and engineering, embodying the true essence of Nari Shakti.
In the spirit of Nari Shakti and the vibrant energy of Navratri, this report celebrates the indomitable spirit of Indian women who have shattered glass ceilings across decades. From the 1930s to the 2020s, these trailblazers from diverse fields such as art, advocacy, administration, politics, police, sports, engineering, and more have not only overcome societal barriers but also paved the way for future generations. Representing various religions and backgrounds, their stories embody resilience, innovation, and empowerment. Discover how these powerful Indian women rose to new heights, inspiring Nari Shakti in every era.
1. Homai Vyarawalla: The Trailblazing Photojournalist of the 1930s Who Captured India’s Freedom Struggle
Homai Vyarawalla, born in 1913 in Navsari, Gujarat, to a Parsi Zoroastrian family, emerged as India’s first woman photojournalist in a time when women were rarely seen in professional fields. Growing up amidst financial hardships and societal stigmas, she pursued education at Bombay University and the Sir J.J. School of Art, defying norms that limited women’s roles. In the 1930s, she began her career with the Bombay Chronicle, documenting everyday life in Mumbai, often publishing under her husband’s name due to gender biases. Her black-and-white images gained national recognition, leading to her move to Delhi in 1942 where she joined the British Information Services. Vyarawalla’s lens captured pivotal moments like Mahatma Gandhi’s life, Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership, and the Dalai Lama’s 1956 visit to India. By working in male-dominated spaces while dressed in a sari, she cleverly navigated restrictions, producing groundbreaking photographs that revealed untold stories. Her retirement in 1970 marked the end of an era, but her legacy as a barrier-breaker in art and journalism endures, inspiring women to claim spaces in visual storytelling.
2. Usha Mehta: The Fearless Advocate of the 1940s Who Broadcast Freedom Through Secret Radio
Usha Mehta, born in 1920 in Saras, Gujarat, was a Gandhian philosopher and freedom fighter whose passion for India’s independence ignited early. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi from age five, she joined protests against British rule despite her father’s initial opposition as a judge under the Raj. In the 1940s, during the Quit India Movement, Mehta, at just 22, established the Secret Congress Radio in 1942, broadcasting uncensored news and leader messages to rally the masses against colonial oppression. Operating underground for three months, the station became a lifeline for the freedom struggle, evading British detection until her arrest. Enduring solitary confinement and a four-year imprisonment, she refused to betray her comrades, emerging as a symbol of unyielding resolve. Post-independence, Mehta earned a PhD in Gandhian thought, taught at Mumbai University, and led peace foundations. Her work in advocacy broke barriers for women in political activism, proving they could lead clandestine operations and intellectual discourse in a patriarchal society dominated by male revolutionaries.
3. Anna Rajam Malhotra: The Pioneering Administrator of the 1950s Who Redefined Civil Service
Anna Rajam Malhotra, born in 1927 in Niranam, Kerala, became a beacon in public administration when opportunities for women were scarce. Educated at Malabar Christian College and the University of Madras, she defied expectations by clearing the civil services exam in 1950. In the 1950s, she joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1951 as its first woman officer, serving as Sub Collector of Tirupattur despite UPSC board suggestions to opt for “suitable” roles like foreign service. Undergoing rigorous training in horse riding and weaponry, she held key positions in Madras State’s Agriculture and Public departments. Later, as Secretary to the Government of India and Chairperson of Nhava Sheva Port Trust, she oversaw India’s first computerized port. Malhotra’s career shattered gender stereotypes in bureaucracy, paving the way for women in leadership roles within government, where her resilience against institutional biases earned her the Padma Bhushan in 1989.
4. Indira Gandhi: The Iconic Politician of the 1960s Who Led India as Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi, born in 1917 in Allahabad to a Kashmiri Pandit Hindu family, rose from a politically influential background to become India’s transformative leader. Daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, she navigated a lonely childhood amid her father’s incarcerations and her mother’s illness. In the 1960s, after serving as Information and Broadcasting Minister, she became Prime Minister in 1966, the world’s second female head of government. She led India through the 1967 Sino-Indian conflict, nationalized banks in 1969 for poverty alleviation, and advanced the Green Revolution for agricultural self-sufficiency. Her socialist policies and linguistic reorganizations, like creating Haryana, stabilized the nation. As the first and only female Prime Minister, Gandhi broke profound barriers in politics, earning titles like “Iron Lady” and “Woman of the Millennium,” demonstrating women’s capability in high-stakes governance and inspiring global female leadership.
5. Kiran Bedi: The Revolutionary Police Officer of the 1970s Who Reformed Law Enforcement
Kiran Bedi, born in 1949 in Amritsar, Punjab, to a family blending Hindu and Sikh traditions, excelled in academics and sports before entering public service. With degrees in English, Political Science, Law, and a PhD, she joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1972 as its first woman officer. In the 1970s, as Assistant Superintendent in Delhi, she earned the President’s Police Medal in 1979 for averting violence during clashes. Implementing community policing in West Delhi reduced crimes against women through volunteer recruitment and beat boxes. Bedi’s reforms challenged male dominance in policing, leading all-male contingents at parades and later transforming Tihar Jail. Her trailblazing career in law enforcement, including UN roles, broke barriers for women in security forces, proving they could enforce justice with innovation and integrity.
6. Bachendri Pal: The Adventurous Mountaineer of the 1980s Who Conquered Everest
Bachendri Pal, born in 1954 in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, to a Bhotiya family, pursued mountaineering against familial expectations of traditional careers. Holding M.A. and B.Ed. degrees, she trained at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. In the 1980s, she became the first Indian woman to summit Mount Everest in 1984, surviving an avalanche and extreme conditions during the “Everest ’84” expedition. This feat, achieved on May 23, inspired national pride. Pal later led all-women expeditions, including the 1993 Indo-Nepalese team and the 1994 Ganges rafting voyage. Her achievements in sports broke barriers for women in adventure fields, encouraging participation in high-risk pursuits and earning her the Padma Bhushan in 2019.
7. Kalpana Chawla: The Visionary Engineer of the 1990s Who Soared into Space
Kalpana Chawla, born in 1962 in Karnal, Haryana, to a Punjabi Hindu family, pursued aerospace engineering despite discouragement toward conventional paths. Graduating from Punjab Engineering College as its first female aerospace student, she earned advanced degrees in the US. In the 1990s, selected for NASA’s Astronaut Group in 1994, she flew on STS-87 in 1997 as the first Indian-origin woman in space, conducting microgravity experiments over 376 hours. Her work at NASA Ames and as a robotic arm operator advanced space technology. Chawla’s journey in engineering broke barriers for Indian women in STEM, inspiring awards like the Kalpana Chawla Award and symbolizing global aspirations despite her tragic death in 2003.
8. Sania Mirza: The Dynamic Tennis Star of the 2000s Who Dominated Global Courts
Sania Mirza, born in 1986 in Mumbai to a Sunni Muslim family, took up tennis at six and turned professional in 2003. Raised in Hyderabad, she balanced education with sports. In the 2000s, she won her first WTA title at the 2005 Hyderabad Open, becoming the first Indian woman to do so, and reached the US Open fourth round. Peaking at singles No. 27 in 2007, she secured mixed doubles Grand Slams, including the 2009 Australian Open. Mirza’s success in sports broke cultural barriers, facing fatwas yet becoming UN Goodwill Ambassador, earning Padma Bhushan, and elevating Indian women’s tennis worldwide.
2020s: Falguni Nayar – The Entrepreneurial Powerhouse
In an era of digital commerce and start-up culture, Falguni Nayar (born 1963) has emerged as a beacon of entrepreneurial success. After a long and successful career as an investment banker, she took a bold leap and founded Nykaa, an online beauty and wellness retailer, in 2012. Her vision was to create a one-stop-shop for beauty products in India. In the 2020s, Nykaa’s monumental IPO transformed her into India’s wealthiest self-made female billionaire. Her journey is a masterclass in risk-taking, strategic business planning, and leveraging the digital revolution. Falguni Nayar’s success story is not just a business triumph; it is a powerful narrative of how women, even later in their careers, can build monumental empires from the ground up, inspiring a new wave of female founders.