Her Life
“Even when my daughter was hospitalised, I continued to teach”
Defying traditions, Laxmi Bisht (nee) Nauriyal stayed with her parents after marriage to complete her education. Her early passion for teaching continues as she teaches underprivileged children despite challenges.
Stopping the Baiga tribal tattoo art from fading
Forehead tattoos - steeped in symbolism - used to distinguish Baiga tribal girls from the other tribes, but today few want them. Which is why Baiga tattoo artist Mangala Bai Marawi wants to preserve the tradition.
Green thumb gives Kashmiri woman financial freedom
Seeing the drudgery women go through, a young Kashmiri woman decided to start a nursery business in her backyard to become financially independent. Polytechnic student Saika Nisar’s success is now inspiring other women.
“Society should accept us as humans, not treat us as aliens”
Ashfa, a transwoman living in Varanasi, lives life to the fullest with her friends, despite the lack of employment opportunities for transgenders, mostly limited to commercial sex work which leads to humiliation and exploitation.
“Women are embarrassed to talk about menstruation”
Ria Patil Chandray, an engineer, once nominated as an ambassador to dispel myths on menstruation, became so passionate that she now manufactures biodegradable sanitary pads that ensure better health and hygiene.
“I’ve saved over 1,400 lives”
India’s first woman rafter and water-rescuer has saved hundreds of people from the raging waters of the River Teesta. Despite the risks and a lack of sophisticated safety equipment, Shanti Rai works with dedication, inspiring young girls to follow in her footsteps.
Keeping Kalbeliya tradition beaded together
Twice a child bride, Sushila Nath – a single mother of three now – makes a living rearing cattle and working as a farm labourer. But her passion is preserving her tribe’s Kalbeliya jewellery and dance and making it commercially sustainable.
“I drove taxis and lorries to feed my family”
When PG Deepamol’s husband became unwell, she had to drive cabs and lorries to support her family. Now she is Kerala’s first woman ambulance pilot and finds helping patients the most rewarding of all driving jobs. Read her story in her own words.
“Social media activism has given my life meaning”
Socially conscious Charubala, aka Deepa Barik, tweets about people’s problems, bringing them to the Odisha government’s attention. Inspired after seeing the destitution of a couple devastated by the 2019 cyclone, her tweets have helped more than 3,000 people get problems resolved. Read about her work in her own words.
Celebrating rural women – with no bias
Every day is International Women’s Day at Village Square where we champion India’s rural women - too often unseen or ignored by the rest of the world. That is why we created our Her Life series that features stories of ordinary women doing extraordinary things. In their own words. With no bias.
“I decided to glamorise pottery”
When Kashmiri engineer Saima Shafi Mir took to pottery to overcome depression, she discovered the plight of local potters producing an age-old craft few care about. So Saima decided to bring pottery into the limelight again. Read her journey in her own words.
“I know the pain of being abandoned”
Having been abandoned as a baby and growing up in an orphanage, Parkash Kaur now runs Unique Home, where she mothers 70 abandoned girls. She received the Padma Shri award for her work. Here is her story in her own words.
“I didn’t want to give up on life”
Rambai Das was kicked out of her marital home when she was 20 for giving birth to a girl a second time. Grieving personal losses, she became a farmer despite taunts from others. Now a success, she dreams of her daughter becoming a nurse.
“I decided to earn people’s blessings”
It was a magical, life-changing moment when her husband’s generosity to a stranger coincided with the healing of her sick child. Sapna Upadhyaya decided to provide for the medical needs of underprivileged children suffering from cancer and launched livelihood programs to support their families. Here she talks about her journey.
Weaving magic with skeins of thread
Honing her inherent embroidery and design skills, Ruma Devi overcame personal and market hurdles to become a fashion designer. Now she has a fashion brand in her name, employing 22,000 women artisans. She talks about her journey.
Making paneer – the light at the end of her tunnel
Shakeela Jaffar struggled to make ends meet selling milk from her two cows. When her husband’s illness deepened her misery, an order for paneer became a ray of hope that has turned into a successful cheese-making business. Here is her story.
“We were humiliated when we pleaded for washrooms”
Viji Palithodi is a tailor-turned-activist from Kozhikode, Kerala, fighting for women’s rights in the workplace. Ironically, it was her abusive father who lit the fire of activism in her. Here is her story in her own words.
“My pupils will one day play at the Olympics”
Karuna Purty beat poverty and prejudice to become a national hockey player. Now she coaches girls who have the same dream in their eyes that she had many years ago. Karuna Purty from Khunti district of Jharkhand talks about her journey in her own words.
“My daughter was cold and still”
Shintu, who lives on the outskirts of Varanasi, was underweight and anaemic when she got pregnant during the pandemic. Because her husband lost his job, she did not eat well and gave birth to a premature baby – but lost her five months later. Read Shintu's story in her own words.
Passionate about bamboo – “the world’s panacea”
Naina Febin’s childhood fascination with the grace and power of bamboo turned into a passion. She believes the strong plant, known to stop soil erosion, is vital for her home state of Kerala, which is becoming increasingly battered by floods. Here is Naina Febin talking about planting over 2000 bamboo saplings wherever she finds the space.