Remembering 10 Women Who Changed History
When it comes to Indian history, several powerful and influential women have successfully made their mark. There have been many female legends in Indian culture who have been honored with numerous awards.
Let us go through the names and stories of ten women who made a mark in Indian story:
1. Captain Prem Mathur
She is the first-ever woman pilot who started flying for Deccan airways. She obtained her commercial pilot’s license in 1947 from Allahabad Flying Club. In 1949, she won the National Air Race.
2. Usha Mehta
She is a dedicated and strong Mahatma Gandhi follower who organized the underground radio station Secret Congress Radio during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1988, she got awarded the Padma Vibhushan award.
3. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
She was the first woman in the world who was the ambassador in three countries, Moscow, London, and Washington D.C. She was first elected the President of the United Nations General Assembly.
4. Savitribai Phule
She was an exemplary modern Indian feminist who opened the first school for women in this country. She was the first female headmistress and teacher and she helped victims of sexual exploitation.
5. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
She was a freedom fighter, socialist and feminist who contributed a lot to women's equality. During Partition of India in 1947, she helped 50,000 refugees in Faridabad to rehabilitate.
6. Mother Teresa
She was the first Nobel Prize Peace Winner in 1979. She founded the Missionaries of Charity and dedicated her entire life to social work and charity.
7. Indira Gandhi
She was the first-ever Indian woman prime minister who brought a revolution in Indian politics. She was recognized as "Woman of the Millennium" by the BBC. She was also the first-ever woman to receive Bharat Ratna Award.
8. Dr. Rukhmabai
At 11, she was oppressed and turned into a child bride. She continued her education even after marriage and became the first-ever woman doctor in India.
9. Bhikaiji Cama
At 20, she was married to a lawyer but it did not turn out to be a happy one for her. In the 1980's she became involved in social work during the famine and plague. She helped in designing the Indian flag.
10. Kalpana Chawla
She is the first-ever Indian American astronaut and aeronautical engineer. She was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2004.
All the women mentioned in the blog are the epitome of "female empowerment." They have left examples for the modern women of India to progress.
