Stories
This forest guard doubles up as an educator
Laxmi Maravi, who grew up surrounded by forests, but was intimidated by forest department staff, now serves as khaki-donning forest guard. In addition, she is in charge of a school inside the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
My name is Shoaib & I am a trans woman
Harassed by family, Shoaib Khan, shut hurtful words out and focussed on breaking transgender stereotypes. After becoming a woman, she chose to retain her male name. Shoaib works at an IT company and hopes for society to become more inclusive.
Karnataka tribal athlete aims high with javelin
Archana M Siddi, a 19-year-old from the marginalised Siddi community, overcomes adversity with ambition. Rising from her impoverished background, she clinched javelin honours in an athletics meet, aspiring to make her mark in the Olympics. Her story, in her words:
Toiling hard to build toilets brick by brick
Thirty-three-year-old Sunita Devi of Udaipura village in Latehar district of Jharkhand has been a trailblazer, teaching tribal women masonry for the purpose of building toilets across interiors. Her story in her own words.
Trout fish lifts Sikkim woman out of poverty
Young bride Kopila Pandey uplifted her family's fortunes by selling vegetables and later rearing trout fish. Her success led to prosperity and recognition through numerous awards.
Mandala art and Kashmir’s shikara sorceress
Mahira Shah, a 21-year-old artist from Kashmir, has overcome several challenges to pursue her passion, finally winning laurels for creating ‘world's smallest mandala shikara’.
Weaving a tapestry on traditional looms
Kiran R Singh's brand, Balwaar, revives the forgotten craft of weaving khes and durries on traditional handlooms in Punjab. This not only preserves the tradition but also uplifts the local community.
Madhya Pradesh activist gifts home for tribal museum
Born in a poor family, Subhadra Khaperde, 56, is doing her bit for uplifting the downtrodden, including turning her own modest home into a tribal museum.
Sanitary pad depot evokes pride in UP village
Petrified on experiencing her first menstrual period, 22-year-old Kalpana Verma of Mirtala in Mahoba district now helps other women by making sanitary pads more easily available.
This Odisha trans woman is breaking barriers with ‘pride’
Chhavi, a transgender person from Banmali Prasad village in Odisha, overcame societal barriers with support from a compassionate stranger. Through her self help group, Chhavi and her team now excel in waste management.
Dhinki delight in Odisha: Bringing back hand-pounded ragi
When doctors suggested finger millet gruel for her husband’s ailment, Saraswati Naik of Asuki village in Kendujhar district not only started growing ragi, but also pounded it by hand to retain its nutritional value. She now swears by it.
Overcoming poverty and abuse to be MP civil servant
Currently the state’s first woman joint director in urban administration department, Savita Pradhan Gaur has overcome poverty and abusive marriage to excel in life.
Rare woman-contractor builds successful career in Ladakh
Jigmet Norzom, 28, has overcome a difficult childhood and deep-rooted misogyny to make a mark in a profession that was considered a male preserve.
She braves HIV stigma to help others win battles
Vanlalruati Colney fought off her drug addiction and the social stigma surrounding HIV infection, and now works for those battling drug abuse and other issues in Mizoram.
She chose to wear mangalsutra even after her husband’s death
Tulsabai Gaikwad of Herwad village in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district talks about becoming the first woman to shun archaic customs imposed on widows – in her own words.
Mizo singer’s journey from local church to Padma Shri
Singing her way through her childhood, KC Runremsangi of Mizoram cut her first music album when she was 23. At 60 now, she has been conferred with the Padma Shri award for popularising Mizo folk songs through her albums and teaching youth.
Woman forest guide at forefront of Ranthambore tours
Suraj Bai Meena, a 33-year-old mother of two, is an inspiration for many for being the first woman from her tribal community to be conducting forest tours.
Tribal artist creates coat of many colours for PM
Sakshi Bhyadiya from Jhobat in Madhya Pradesh found fame when PM Modi wore a jacket with Pithora artwork painted by her.
Drone didi: Odisha sarpanch takes aerial route to deliver pension
Saroj Agarwal of Baleswar gram panchayat in Nuapada district is promising to deliver more services in remote villages through a drone, having used it already to deliver a pension.
Ladakh mother carves Tibetan legacy on stone
Tsering Palmo, a Tibetan refugee in Ladakh, is the only woman who carves Buddhist mantras and prayers on what are popularly called mani stones – believed to make one’s passage to the next world easier – upholding an important tradition of her ancestral land.