Lifetime Achievement Awards conferred on Sharon Lowen, Anjali Gopalan, Uma Nair, Raj Mehra and Arpana Caur
Twenty others get Aalekh Women Achiever Awards
New Delhi / July 19, 2025
New Delhi, July 19: In a celebration of exceptional feminine achievements, grace and grit, Sharon Lowen, renowned Odissi dancer; Arpana Caur, a leading name in contemporary visual art; and Uma Nair, an eminent art curator and cultural commentator, were conferred the 3rd edition of the Aalekh Women Achievers Awards here today.
Anjali Gopalan, a pioneering human rights activist and the founder of The Naz Foundation, and Dr Raj Dulhari Mehra, former HOD Anatomy, AIIMS & Jamia Hamdard, were also honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Besides them, 20 path-breaking women were conferred Women Achiever Awards for making impactful contributions in their respective domains and redefining the concepts of creativity and service.
Justice S K Kaul, former judge of the Supreme Court, was the chief guest at the function, held at The Leela Palace hotel.
Mr Amitabh Kant, former CEO of Niti Aayog and G20 Sherpa, and Adil Hussain, an actor known for his critically acclaimed performances in theatres and films, were Guests of Honour.
Lauding the awardees, Justice Kaul said they have been a trailblazer in their chosen field, spanning sports, public policy, cinema, literature, media, and the law. “ They have shown the empowerment is not only just about opportunities, but about seizing them with determination, turning challenges into stepping stones and paving the way for others… There is also a pressing need to continue to amplify their voices, dismantle systematic inequalities, and create space where they can strive and thrive,” he pointed out.
He also commended Dr Rennie Joyy, the founder of Aalekh Foundation, and her entire team for doing remarkable work at the grassroots level for women empowerment.
Mr Kant said if India has to be a ‘Viksit Bharat’, it has to be a 35 plus trillion dollar economy by 2047. “I've been a long-term believer that Indian women have to be the key driver of this growth. Indian women today contribute just about 28% of India's GDP whereas they are almost 50% of India's population. And therefore, the growth story has to come from women.”
Complimenting Aalekh Foundation, he said it has selected some really outstanding women “who are truly outstanding leaders of tomorrow.”
In her welcome address, Dr Rennie Joyy said, “The Aalekh Women Achievers Awards are a tribute to women who lead with courage and vision. Their stories inspire change. We have continued to spotlight the role of women as carriers of tradition, creators of beauty, and change-makers in both visible and invisible ways. Whether through a loom or a lens, a courtroom or a classroom, women continue to shape the narrative of a more inclusive and resilient India.”
The packed hall reverberated with thunderous applause for the awardees who included Anshu Arora, one of the youngest Indian designers to retail at Selfridges, London; Winnie Singh, whose NGO Maitri India has dignified the lives of abandoned elderly widows in Vrindavan; and Neetu Bist, a prominent social media influencer having over 4.6 million Instagram followers and a YouTube audience exceeding 52 million.
Among the other awardees were Karuna Badwal, film producer and a core team member of superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment; Rituparna Sengupta, National Award-winning actress; Dr Basavi Mukherji, classical music exponent and senior professor at Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan; Chandrima Chatterjee, textile policy expert; and Bambi Kevichusa, fashion designer from Nagaland.
Other awardees were Shonali Bose, an acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter; Maushami Chakravarty, an officer of the Indian Information Service and DG of Akashvani News; Anjum Chopra, a Padma Shri awardee and former captain of the Indian women’s cricket team; Shubra Gupta, a Ramnath Goenka Award-winning film critic; Malvika Rajkotia; a constitutional and family law expert; Nisha Naryanan, CEO of Red FM; Sonalika Sahay, a celebrated model and digital fashion curator; and Mira Gupta, a leading textile expert who created Fabindia’s first Accessories category.
Also honoured on the occasion were Acharya Pratishtha Yoga, a renowned yoga guru and wellness educator; Sangeeta Bahadur, a former IFS officer whose 35-year diplomatic career shaped cultural diplomacy; Alison Barette, Country Director of the British Council in India; and Bijoya Sawain, a distinguished writer in Khashi language.
The previous recipients of the award include Shovana Narayan, Laila Tyabji, Kausar Munir, Richa Anirudh, Sonal Kalra, Anju Bobby George, Ekta Bist, Geeta Chandran, Garima Wahal, and Princess Gauri Lakshmi Bayi.
Instituted by the Aalekh Foundation, a socio-cultural impact organisation, the annual awards honour outstanding women from diverse fields such as the arts, public service, media, law, literature, medicine, entrepreneurship, education, and social impact.
