CHENNAI: Boxer MC Mary Kom, actor Madhuri Dixit, Carnatic singer Bombay Jayshree, wildlife photographer Rathika Ramasamy, investment banker Sujatha Burla, scientist Ramalakshmi, Dr Mathangi Ramakrishnan, Child Trust Medical Research Foundation and journalist Sagarika Ghose were awarded with the ‘Inspiring Youth Icon Award’ by Sathyabama university on Saturday.
“It is a great feeling to get this award. This is taking me down memory lane when I was young and longing to become a boxer, ” said MC Mary Kom. She added, “Times have changed today, women must be guided and encouraged to travel great heights in life.”
Journalist Sagarika Ghosh spoke about Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s purported sexist remarks on women journalists. “It is very sad that a man of his capacity asks women journalists to sit in the news room and not go on field. Such comments only make things worse in society, it is a shame.”
Sathyabama university awarded these eight personalities as a part of their 8th Femfest, an inter college cultural programme. “The main aim of this function is to help empower young girls and women on the campus to see and learn from them, because these are women who never let anything come in between them or their work,” said Manriazeena Johnson, director of the university.
Jeppiar, chancellor of the university, congratulated the awardees and exhorted the hundreds of girl students to work hard and never compromise on doing what they love. “Today women hold the most important positions in the country and the world. I wish all you students do great in life and be fearless.”