Aalekh Foundation Announces 3rd Edition of the Aalekh Women Achievers Awards

NEW DELHI:
Anshu Arora, one of the youngest Indian designers to retail at Selfridges, London; Sharon Lowen, renowned exponent of Odissi, Manipuri and Chhau dance forms; and Winnie Singh, whose NGO Maitri India has dignified the lives of abandoned elderly widows in Vrindavan, are among the 25 path-breaking women, who will be bestowed the 3rd Edition of the Aalekh Women Achievers Awards for their stellar accomplishments in redefining leadership, creativity, and service in contemporary India.

The awards will be presented at an impressive function at The Leela Palace, Chanakyapuri, in the national capital on July 19.

The 2025 edition has a powerful line-up of honorees who are not only formidable in their fields but also catalysts of positive change. They include Neetu Bist, who hails from a small town in Uttarakhand and has risen to become one of India’s most prominent social media influencers and content creators, amassing over 4.6 million Instagram followers and a YouTube audience exceeding 52 million besides the prestigious National Creators Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also featuring in the list is Karuna Badwal, a strategic powerhouse in the Indian entertainment industry. As a core team member of Red Chillies Entertainment, she has been instrumental in managing the business affairs and endorsements of superstar Shah Rukh Khan and building his brand into a global phenomenon. She was also part of the founding team behind Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), shaping it into an iconic IPL franchisee.

Instituted by the Aalekh Foundation, a socio-cultural impact organisation dedicated to heritage, sustainability, and women’s empowerment, the awards, an annual initiative, honor outstanding women from diverse walks of life, such as the arts, public service, media, law, literature, medicine, entrepreneurship, education, and social impact — who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in shaping a more inclusive and empowered society.

“These awards are a tribute to women who lead with integrity, imagination, and impact. Each story we honour is a story of courage, compassion, and contribution — rooted in values yet forward-looking. Through the Awards, we aim to spotlight journeys that inspire a more equitable and empathetic future,” said Dr Rennie Joyy, Founder, Aalekh Foundation.

The awards are in two categories: Lifetime Achievement and Women Achiever.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards will be conferred on Sharon Lowen, Arpana Caur, Dr Raj Dulhari Mehra, Anjali Gopalan and Uma Nair, while the rest will be honoured with Women Achiever Awards.

The awardees’ list has names like Arpana Caur, a leading name in contemporary visual art; Dr Raj Dulhari Mehra, former HOD Anatomy, AIIMS & Jamia Hamdard and known for work in neurobiology for pain and hormones therapy post-menopause; and Anjali Gopalan, pioneering human rights activist and the founder of The Naz Foundation (India) Trust, leading the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness in India.

Also featuring in the list are Rituparna Sengupta, National Award-winning actress and one of Indian cinema’s most versatile performers; Dr Basavi Mukherji, senior professor at Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan and known for her work on improvisation in Hindustani classical music; Chandrima Chatterjee, a key voice in India’s textile policy landscape whose work has strengthened the country’s global textile presence; and Bambi Kevichusa, renowned fashion designer from Nagaland, who is celebrated for her couture bridal creations and her commitment to sustainable, Naga-rooted design. She has represented Northeast India at international events in Istanbul, Paris, and Hanoi, with her work featured in the Horniman Museum, London.

There are also names like Uma Nair, an eminent art curator, writer, and cultural commentator whose work over 35 years has shaped India’s contemporary art narrative through landmark exhibitions, critical writings, and global representation of India at art forums in Venice, Singapore, and Dubai; Shonali Bose, an acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter known for her emotionally resonant and socially bold narratives across cinema (The Sky is Pink) and OTT (Netflix series Ziddi Girls); Maushami Chakravarty, a distinguished officer of the Indian Information Service and DG of Akashvani News; and Anjum Chopra, a Padma Shri awardee and former captain of the Indian women’s cricket team.

Further in the list are Shubhra Gupta, a Ramnath Goenka Award-winning film critic; Malvika Rajkotia; a prominent constitutional and family law expert known for her fearless advocacy of gender justice and human rights; Nisha Naryanan, CEO of Red FM and COO of Digital Radio (India) who has transformed FM radio into a platform for bold, socially engaged content; Sonalika Sahay, a celebrated Indian model and digital fashion curator who rose from being the face of Lakme Fashion Week to launching her own e‑boutique Style Arrest; and Mira Gupta, a leading textile expert and heritage revivalist who created Fabindia’s first Accessories category and Swadesh Bazaar at the Ambani wedding.

The other awardees are Acharya Pratishtha Yoga, a renowned yoga guru, author, and wellness educator; Sangeeta Bahadur, a former IFS officer whose distinguished 35-year diplomatic career shaped cultural diplomacy; Alison Barette, Country Director of the British Council in India; and Bijoya Sawain, a distinguished writer and translator who is known for deep engagement with the heritage of the Khasi people. Her essays have featured in noted anthologies by editors like Ruskin Bond and Namita Gokhale.

The jury for the awards comprised Neelam Pratap Rudy, Philanthropist & Cultural Patron; Bimal Julka, former Chief Information Commissioner of India; Sharif Rangneka, author, communications specialist & inclusion advocate; Dr Shovana Narayan, renowned Kathak exponent & scholar; and Piyali Dasgupta, Art & Culture Strategic Advisor.

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.