The 36th edition of Devi awards at Delhi honoured 12 women for their invaluable contribution in various fields while breaking societal norms and barriers
The Monday evening was abuzz at the ITC Maurya not with speeches or spectacle, but with quiet authority; what unfolded was a celebration of women who shaped their worlds through persistence, intellect and purpose.The 36th edition of The awards, the 7th in Delhi was less about applause and more about acknowledgement of these journeys.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, was the chief guest, while Chief Minister Rekha Gupta served as the Guest of Honour at the event, which commenced off with a welcome address by Express Publications (Madurai) Pvt Ltd, CEO Lakshmi Menon setting the tone for the day. This was followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp as EPMPL CMD Manoj Sonthalia, Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla and Editor Santwana Bhattacharya were present on the stage along with the chief guests.
Gadkari said women have played a vital role in shaping India’s history and society, adding that recognition comes from the quality of one’s work. “A person’s work becomes their trademark,” he said.Gadkari remarked, “Respect should not be demanded; it should be commanded,” while stressing the importance of skill and merit.
Gupta said India has long valued and empowered women. From Rani Lakshmibai to Kalpana Chawla, women have consistently broken barriers. She said while every woman in India faces challenges regardless of whether she is a housewife or a minister, courage and decisiveness help overcome challenges and hoped such examples would inspire more women to pursue their dreams.
The women felicitated at the event included Smita Prakash, Editor and CEO of ANI, for her contribution to journalism; Simran Sharma, Paralympian swimmer and gold medallist at the 2024 Para Championship in Japan; and Dr Radhika Batra, paediatrician and public health expert, for her work in combating child malnutrition.
Also honoured were Sudha Bhattacharya, professor and geneticist, for her contribution to molecular biology; Aditi Mangaldas, dancer and educator, for her work in Kathak and contemporary dance; and Sonia Mathur, senior advocate at the Supreme Court, for her contribution to legal affairs.
The list further featured Archana Jahagirdar, founder and managing partner of Rukam Capital, for promoting entrepreneurship; Anita Kundu, mountaineer, for her conquest of Mount Everest; Shradha Sharma, founder and CEO of YourStory, for championing India’s startup ecosystem; Meenakshi Jain, Member of Parliament and historian, for her scholarly work on Indian history and religion; Rina Dhaka, fashion designer and entrepreneur, for her new-age approach to fashion and Lakshmi V Venkatesan Founder of Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust and for her inspiring work with young people.
As the evening concluded with a thank you address, the Devi Awards stood as a sombre reminder of the fact that inside every woman resides a “devi” capable of changing the world.