Beyond the milestone
Women's impact A school opened. A voice heard. A barrier crossed. The work of Indian women has changed who gets to learn, lead, create and belong.
01 Education and social reform
Savitribai Phule What changed She made education a possibility for girls who were being excluded from classrooms, while challenging caste and gender injustice.
Her lasting influence Her schools, writing and care for vulnerable women connect learning with dignity, making her work foundational to India's history of women's education.
The work behind the change Opened one of the first schools for girls in Pune with Jyotirao Phule Ran a shelter for widows and wrote poetry against caste injustice 02 Freedom struggle
Rani Lakshmibai What changed Her leadership in the 1857 uprising placed a woman at the centre of armed resistance to British rule.
Her lasting influence She remains a powerful figure in India's memory of resistance, challenging the idea that courage and military leadership belong only to men.
The work behind the change Led her army against British rule in the 1857 uprising Became a lasting symbol of resistance 03 Medicine
Anandibai Joshi What changed By earning a medical degree overseas, she challenged the barriers that kept Indian women out of professional medical education.
Her lasting influence Her short life became an enduring example of women's right to study medicine and serve their communities as doctors.
The work behind the change Graduated from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1886 One of India's first women doctors of Western medicine 04 Medicine
Kadambini Ganguly What changed Her university education and medical practice demonstrated that women could enter professions that had largely excluded them.
Her lasting influence Her work as a doctor and advocate connects women's education with professional independence and public participation.
The work behind the change One of the first two women graduates in India, in 1883 Practised as one of India's first women doctors of Western medicine 05 Politics and education
Annie Besant What changed She brought education, political organisation and the demand for self-government together in her work in India.
Her lasting influence Her role in the Home Rule movement and Congress presidency forms part of the history of women's participation in India's national politics.
The work behind the change Founded the Home Rule League in India Became the first woman president of the Indian National Congress in 1917 06 Politics and poetry
Sarojini Naidu What changed She combined poetry with political leadership, taking prominent roles in the freedom movement and public office.
Her lasting influence Her Congress presidency and governorship made women's national leadership visible during India's transition to independence.
The work behind the change First Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress, 1925 First woman Governor of an Indian state, Uttar Pradesh 07 Constitution and human rights
Hansa Mehta What changed She helped shape India's Constitution and argued for language at the United Nations that explicitly included women as human beings with equal rights.
Her lasting influence Her contribution links India's constitutional history with the international principle that human rights belong to everyone.
The work behind the change Member of the Constituent Assembly that wrote India's Constitution Helped change the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to say "all human beings" 08 Public health
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur What changed She helped put public health and medical education at the centre of independent India's institution-building.
Her lasting influence Her work as Health Minister and in founding AIIMS connects women's leadership with institutions serving patients and training medical professionals.
The work behind the change Member of the Constituent Assembly India's first Health Minister, who helped found AIIMS The Politician · AI illustration, not Indira Gandhi Born 1917 · Died 1984
09 Leadership
Indira Gandhi What changed As India's first woman Prime Minister, she held executive power during major changes in agriculture and international relations.
Her lasting influence Her long tenure is central to India's political history and to the visibility of women at the highest level of government. Holding that office is distinct from a judgement on every policy of her administration.
The work behind the change India's first and only woman Prime Minister, from 1966 Led the country for more than fifteen years The Police Officer · AI illustration, not Kiran Bedi Born 1949
10 Police service
Kiran Bedi What changed Entering the Indian Police Service broke a professional barrier, while her work at Tihar brought attention to education and rehabilitation in prisons.
Her lasting influence Her career broadens the discussion of public service beyond enforcement to include reform and the presence of women in policing.
The work behind the change First woman officer of the Indian Police Service, 1972 Reformed Tihar Jail and later served as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry The Mountaineer · AI illustration, not Bachendri Pal Born 1954
11 Mountaineering
Bachendri Pal What changed Her Everest ascent showed that Indian women could lead in demanding high-altitude sport.
Her lasting influence Training younger climbers extended her achievement beyond one summit, connecting personal accomplishment with opportunities for others.
The work behind the change First Indian woman to climb Mount Everest, on 23 May 1984 Has trained hundreds of young climbers 12 Law
M. Fathima Beevi What changed Her appointment brought a woman onto the bench of India's Supreme Court for the first time.
Her lasting influence That milestone changed representation in the highest court and remains an important reference point in the history of women in law.
The work behind the change First woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, 1989 Later served as Governor of Tamil Nadu The Astronaut · AI illustration, not Kalpana Chawla Born 1962 · Died 2003
13 Space
Kalpana Chawla What changed Her journey from engineering studies in India to spaceflight made a woman of Indian origin visible in human space exploration.
Her lasting influence Her life offers girls a memorable connection between scientific education, aviation and the possibility of working beyond national boundaries.
The work behind the change First woman of Indian origin in space, on Columbia in 1997 Flew again in 2003 and lost her life on the return 14 Weightlifting
Karnam Malleswari What changed Her Sydney bronze put an Indian woman on the Olympic medal podium for the first time.
Her lasting influence The medal became a landmark in Indian women's sport, showing that strength disciplines could be a stage for women's international achievement.
The work behind the change Won bronze at the Sydney 2000 Olympics First Indian woman to win an Olympic medal 15 Politics
Pratibha Patil What changed Her election brought a woman to India's presidency for the first time.
Her lasting influence Her term marked a change in representation at the country's highest constitutional office, following decades in state and national public life.
The work behind the change India's first woman President, from 2007 to 2012 Earlier served as Governor of Rajasthan The Boxer · AI illustration, not Mary Kom Born 1982
16 Boxing
Mary Kom What changed Her world titles and Olympic bronze brought sustained recognition to an Indian woman in boxing.
Her lasting influence Her career challenges narrow expectations about gender, rural background and motherhood in elite sport.
The work behind the change Olympic bronze at London 2012 as a mother of three Six time world champion The Fighter Pilot · AI illustration, not Avani Chaturvedi Born 1993
17 Air Force
Avani Chaturvedi What changed She was part of the first group of women fighter pilots commissioned in India and went on to fly a fighter jet solo.
Her lasting influence Her career marks an expansion of the operational roles available to women in the Indian Air Force.
The work behind the change Among India's first three women fighter pilots, 2016 First Indian woman to fly a fighter jet solo, 2018 The Badminton Player · AI illustration, not P. V. Sindhu Born 1995
18 Badminton
P. V. Sindhu What changed Her Olympic medals and world title made sustained excellence by an Indian woman a defining part of international badminton.
Her lasting influence Her achievements offer a visible benchmark for young athletes and a story of women competing repeatedly at the highest level.
The work behind the change Olympic silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020 World champion in 2019 19 Space science
Ritu Karidhal What changed Her mission leadership placed a woman scientist in a major role in India's lunar programme.
Her lasting influence Her work highlights the engineering, planning and teamwork behind space missions, and women's participation in that work.
The work behind the change Mission director of Chandrayaan 2 Worked on the Mars Orbiter Mission The Weightlifter · AI illustration, not Mirabai Chanu Born 1994
20 Weightlifting
Mirabai Chanu What changed Her world title and Olympic silver brought recognition to Indian women's weightlifting.
Her lasting influence Her journey from Manipur makes women's strength and the contribution of athletes from India's northeast visible on the international stage.
The work behind the change Silver at the Tokyo Olympics, India's first medal of those Games World champion in 2017 21 Politics
Droupadi Murmu What changed Her presidency brought a tribal woman to India's highest constitutional office for the first time.
Her lasting influence Her journey from teaching and state politics adds an important dimension to representation in national public life.
The work behind the change India's first tribal woman President, from 2022 Earlier served as Governor of Jharkhand 22 Shooting
Manu Bhaker What changed Her two bronze medals in Paris marked a major achievement for Indian shooting and women's Olympic sport.
Her lasting influence Her performance widened the record of what Indian women have achieved at a single Olympic Games.
The work behind the change Two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics First Indian to win two medals at one Games since independence 23 Cricket
Harmanpreet Kaur What changed Her batting and captaincy have placed women's cricket at the centre of major international competition for India.
Her lasting influence Her career highlights both individual skill and team leadership in the growth of recognition for women's cricket.
The work behind the change Captained India to its first Women's Cricket World Cup title in 2025 Scored a famous 171 not out at the 2017 World Cup 24 Archery
Kumkum Mohod What changed Her recurve archery work is part of the collection's newest chapter in Indian women's sport.
Her lasting influence As a recent entry, her longer-term influence is still emerging. Sporting milestones and an enduring social legacy are not the same thing.
The work behind the change First Indian woman to win recurve individual gold at the Asian Games, 2026 25 Air Force
Shakti Sharma What changed Her Air Force career belongs to the changing story of women's representation in military leadership.
Her lasting influence Her longer-term influence is still emerging. A recent promotion should not be treated as proof that every barrier to women's advancement has disappeared.
The work behind the change First woman outside the medical branch to become Air Vice Marshal, 2026 The Film Actress · AI illustration, not Shabana Azmi Born 1950
26 Film and theatre
Shabana Azmi What changed Her performances brought complex women's lives and social questions into Indian cinema, alongside public advocacy.
Her lasting influence Her body of work shows how artistic excellence can make everyday struggles visible rather than treating women only as supporting characters.
The work behind the change Won five National Film Awards for Best Actress Made her film debut in Ankur in 1974 and became a leading voice in parallel cinema Biography source: MAMI Mumbai Film Festival
The Stage Legend · AI illustration, not Zohra Sehgal Born 1912 · Died 2014
27 Theatre and dance
Zohra Sehgal What changed She connected dance, theatre, cinema and television across a performing career that reached different generations.
Her lasting influence Her continued presence on screen and stage challenges limited ideas about age and the roles available to women performers.
The work behind the change Toured internationally with Uday Shankar's dance troupe from 1935 Received the Padma Vibhushan in 2010 for her contribution to the arts Biography source: The Hindu
The Self Help Group Leader · AI illustration, not Ela Bhatt Born 1933 · Died 2022
28 Women's livelihoods
Ela Bhatt What changed Through SEWA, she organised women whose labour was often unrecognised and linked their work with rights and financial services.
Her lasting influence Her approach centres street vendors, home-based workers and other self-employed women as skilled contributors to India's economy.
The work behind the change Founded the Self-Employed Women's Association in 1972 Received the Right Livelihood Award in 1984 for organising women workers Biography source: Harvard Business School oral history
The Sprinter · AI illustration, not P. T. Usha Born 1964
29 Athletics
P. T. Usha What changed Her international performances gave Indian women's athletics a prominent place in public attention.
Her lasting influence Her later work with young athletes and sports leadership connects competitive achievement with nurturing the next generation.
The work behind the change Won four gold medals and a silver at the 1986 Asian Games Became the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association in 2022 Biography source: Olympics.com
The Chemist · AI illustration, not E. K. Janaki Ammal Born 1897 · Died 1984
30 Botany and genetics
E. K. Janaki Ammal What changed Her research in plant genetics and sugarcane breeding contributed to Indian science and the study of its plant life.
Her lasting influence Her career makes visible the careful research and institution-building behind scientific progress, including work by women too often overlooked.
The work behind the change Pioneered research in plant cytogenetics and sugarcane breeding Helped reorganise the Botanical Survey of India after returning to India in 1951 Biography source: Indian National Science Academy
The Painter · AI illustration, not Amrita Sher-Gil Born 1913 · Died 1941
31 Painting
Amrita Sher-Gil What changed She brought Indian people and everyday lives into a distinctive modern painting practice that drew on more than one artistic tradition.
Her lasting influence Her depictions of women and ordinary life remain part of India's modern artistic heritage, despite the brevity of her career.
The work behind the change Helped shape modern Indian painting through depictions of everyday life Earned recognition at the Grand Salon in Paris during her artistic training Biography source: National Gallery of Modern Art
The Classical Dancer · AI illustration, not Rukmini Devi Arundale Born 1904 · Died 1986
32 Dance and arts education
Rukmini Devi Arundale What changed She expanded public engagement with Bharatanatyam and created a lasting institution for dance, music and arts education.
Her lasting influence Kalakshetra carries her contribution through teachers, students and performance, showing how an institution can extend an artist's work across generations.
The work behind the change Founded Kalakshetra in Chennai in 1936 Helped bring Bharatanatyam to wider audiences through performance and arts education Biography source: Kalakshetra Foundation
The Singer · AI illustration, not M. S. Subbulakshmi Born 1916 · Died 2004
33 Carnatic music
M. S. Subbulakshmi What changed Her concerts and recordings brought Carnatic and devotional music to audiences beyond the traditional concert hall.
Her lasting influence Her artistic distinction and support for public causes connect India's musical heritage with a wider tradition of service.
The work behind the change Received the Bharat Ratna in 1998, the first musician to receive the honour Received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1974 Biography source: Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
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