Women Achievers In Education

Each year, BW Education presents to its readers ‘The Most Influential Women in Education’ on the occasion of Women’s Day, to felicitate these women and to provide inspiration to readers. We highlight the women in power, in positions of leadership, women in sciences, liberal arts, humanities and creative fields, as also women in edtech space, those working at grassroots and those seeking to empower others through their painstaking work. The effort, while preparing the broader list of 50 women achievers, is to have fair representation from various streams.  

We also strive to have new names each year and without in any way taking away from the commendable work that women achievers from last year’s list continue to do, we wish to acknowledge work of more and more women educationists are doing. To borrow an analogy, singer Lata Mangeshkar had, at one point in her career, stopped taking awards at popular film award events. In similar vein, some women educationists have attained that stature. They will remain in the hall of fame in any awards. From BW Education’s perspective, Sudha Murty is one such name. 

The field is vast and it’s an onerous and painstaking task to arrive at the final list from a vast pool of women achievers. For the exercise to be transparent, we appoint an advisory panel and base our final list strictly on their ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘may be’.  This year, we invited the following women educationists to be part of our advisory council, all three of whom figured in our ‘Most Influential Women’ list last year: Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities; Najma Akhtar, Former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia and Vinita Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya.

Each of them sent in their responses. From BW Businessworld, we had Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld & Founder, exchange4media and Noor Fathima Warsia, Group Editorial Director, BW Businessworld, on the panel.

The final list of ‘Most Influential Women in Education’ is a celebration of women heading universities with elan; successfully sending missions to moon and Mars; providing answers to questions of past as archaeologist; fanning children’s imagination as child authors; providing tools of empowerment through skilling initiatives and much more.

Let's have a look at the women leaders in education sector who have made it to this year's list of BW Education 'Most Influential Women':

LEADING BY EXAMPLE 

Droupadi Murmu is the first tribal person and the only second woman to be elected as the President of India. She is also the first president to have been born in independent India as well as the youngest person to occupy the post.

In 2015, she was appointed governor of Jharkhand state, becoming the first woman tribal governor of any tribal-majority state in India.

She was a teacher before she entered politics. She worked as an assistant professor at the Shri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Institute, Rairangpur.

She completed her primary education in the village school and she subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rama Devi Women’s College in Bhubaneswar. She is the first woman from her village to complete a university education.

Image Credit: https://presidentofindia.nic.in/Profile

Annapurna Devi is Minister of State for Education, Government of India. She is gracefully shouldering the responsibility of the portfolio with her sensibility and politeness. She is known for her wisdom and dedication to the ministry.  Representing Kodarma district in Jharkhand, Devi has played a vital role in uplifting her constituency, led multiple infrastructural developments and implemented education programmes and policies that improved the literacy rate and overall school enrolment ratio.  

Devi also promotes skill development in her constituency which is full of natural resources and minerals, in order to empower the youth, especially in the sectors of mining and small-scale industry. 

As a sturdy woman, she has always stood against the crime and harassment of women in society. Recently, she was appointed as convenor of a high-level committee formed to address a harassment and violent case against a woman in Sandeshkhali.

Atishi Marlena is currently serving on the portfolio of Education and Finance in the Delhi Government, with the motto of ‘Working for an educated, empowered and aspirational India’. She has done her graduation from St Stephen’s College and went to Oxford University for her Master's. In 2020, she was elected to the 7th Delhi Assembly from the Kalka Ji constituency. 

Being an educator, she is heading with her government’s policies and constantly evolving the education landscape of Delhi. 

In her recent Delhi Budget speech, Marlena announced to give Rs 1000 to every woman aged between 18 and above every month. Minister is a great orator and mighty woman leader known for her vision for the education sector.

Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is the first woman and alumnus vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Teaching and research career spanning over three and half decades beginning with lecturer at the Goa University from 1988, she had joined Savitribai Phule Pune University in 1991. Previously she was professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration holding the additional charge of director of International Centre. She has published four books & edited two and has published several research papers. 30 students have completed their PhD under her supervision. At present, 4 students are working for their doctorate under her supervision. She was the General Secretary of the Pune University Teachers’ Association from 1996 to 2009.

Preeti Aghalayam is director-in-charge and dean, School of Engineering and Science, Zanzibar Campus, IIT Madras. She became the first woman director in the comity of IITs when IIT Madras’ first offshore campus was opened in Zanzibar in July 2023. A chemical engineering passout from IIT Madras, she did her PhD from University of Massachusetts Amherst and has been associated with IIT Bombay and Madras. She is widely published and serves on the board of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, Department of Space, Government of India, among others. She is spearheading a multicultural ethos at the Zanzibar campus, wherein staff and faculty from India are learning Swahili and getting to know the customs of Zanzibar.

Ujawala Chakradeo serves as the vice chancellor of SNDT University Mumbai, which is not only the first Women's University in India but also in South-East Asia. The university is headquartered in Churchgate, Mumbai. Chakradeo possesses extensive teaching experience and has been honoured with several awards, including second merit at the university level for B Arch and M Tech, as well as first prize at the national level for the architectural design of Shahid Smarak at Zero Miles Nagpur. She currently also serves as a member of SEG and contributes to the development of guidelines aimed at promoting social responsibilities among students and teachers through training programmes.

Gita Gopinath is an Indian-American economist. She is the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as of January 21, 2022.

She previously served as the Chief Economist of the Fund from 2019-22. Prior to joining the IMF, she was the John Zwaanstra Professor of international studies and of economics at Harvard University’s economics department (2005-22) and before that she was an assistant professor of economics at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business (2001-05). Her research, which focusses on international finance and macroeconomics, is widely cited and has been published in many top economics journals.  

She is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Econometric Society.

Image Credit: https://www.imf.org/en/About/senior-officials/Bios/gita-gopinath

Poonam Gupta is the director general of National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. She has worked at top multilateral institutions - IMF, World Bank and IFC. As part of the academia, she taught at Delhi School of Economics, University of Maryland (USA) and as a visiting faculty at ISI, Delhi. She was the RBI Chair Professor at NIPFP and a Professor at ICRIER.  

She is currently on the Boards of NIPFP and GDN (Global Development Network) and a member of the World Bank’s Advisory Group for ‘Poverty & Equity Global Practice’ besides being on the Development Advisory Committee of NITI Aayog.

Ananya Mukherjee is the vice chancellor of Shiv Nadar University. Before joining Shiv Nadar University, Mukherjee was provost and vice president academic, University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan, where she led UBC’s strategy for antiracism and inclusive higher education, and was involved in several national initiatives for higher education in Canada. Between 2015 and 2018, Mukherjee was Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at York University, Toronto. In this capacity, she led the largest liberal arts faculty in Canada with 23,000 students from 123 countries. At York University, Mukherjee established the International Secretariat for Human Development (ISHD), an initiative dedicated to research for social change

Neelima Gupta is the vice chancellor of Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar (MP). She has had a stellar academic as well as leadership record. Prior to joining Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, she was the VC of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University and before that, of Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Kanpur University.  

She has also been part of several committees and boards, including Planning and Monitoring Board, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari; President of India's Nominee, Executive Counsel, Central University of Tamil Nadu and Board of Governors, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. With expertise in Parasitology, Aquatic toxicology, Biotechnology, Immunology, she has written 8 books, 36 book chapters and 137 journal articles. She has won several awards, including EK Janaki Ammal National Award on Taxonomy from the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India.

Image Credit:

https://www.dhsgsu.edu.in/index.php/en/administration/vice-chancellor

Geetanjali Dash is the first woman vice chancellor of Berhampur University, Odisha. Prior to taking over as VC in Berhampur University, she was a professor of Political Science in Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, where she held several administrative positions. Dash, whose research areas are Political Economy, Odisha Politics, Gender Studies and Political Theory, was also the vice president of Indian Political Science Association during 2020-2023 and elected as the president of IPSA in 2023. She is also the secretary general of Network of Asia Pacific Schools and Institutes on Public Administration and Governance. She is also a master trainer of UGC SAM Programme for Women Academic Administrators. She has written & edited five books, published & presented papers and guided many research students.

Image Credit: https://www.buodisha.edu.in/vice-chancellor/

Neeli Bendapudi has marked a history by becoming first female president of The Pennsylvania State University. She is the 19th president of Pennsylvania State University, an ex officio and non-voting member of the Board of Trustees. Because of her outstanding contributions to American higher education, she was given the ‘Immigrant Achievement Award’ in 2023.  

Bendapudi's creative leadership has put in place a number of projects and activities meant to improve Penn State students' educational and personal experiences, one of these initiatives is the ‘Penn State Go’ app, which gives students smartphone access to course materials, academic resources and activities on campus. Her leadership has placed a strong emphasis on inclusion and diversity in higher education. She made Penn State recognised by Campus Pride as ‘One of the top 30 colleges for LGBTQ+ students'. She has also instituted initiatives that offer resources and assistance to minority professors and students.

Lata Vaidyanathan is a veteran educationist. She is envisioned to work for child-centred education. She has served as the principal of many prestigious schools and has also been the founder principal of Eicher School at Parwanoo. 

Vaidyanathan stresses burden-free education and total quality management in the sector. The three of her career have been rewarded with awards like  'The Educationist of the Year Award 2013, 'Dr Radhakrishnan Award,  'Lifetime Achievement Award by the Patanjali Trust 2014' etc. 

She is currently working as the director of TERI Prakriti School and a member of the Board of Management of National Bal Bhavan.

Anuradha Joshi is the principal of Sardar Patel Vidyalaya. She is a reputed educationist and an acclaimed educational administrator. In her current role of leading the Sardar Patel School, she has taken initiatives to strengthen a holistic model of education which is based on the pursuit of excellence while balancing social awareness, environmental sensitivity and cultural rootedness. 

Sardar Patel is the only private school in Delhi having Hindi as the medium of learning till Class V. Anuradha Joshi has been bestowed with the National Awards for teachers 2016 in a special category. 

Armed with an educational background in physics and education, she is touching the lives of young learners, facilitating them to become successful, global citizens with a strong sense of Bharatiyata and a strong ethical compass based on empathy.

THE GAME CHANGERS

(Transforming sciences, liberal arts and creative fields)

Ritu Karidhal also known as the ‘Rocket Woman of India’ was the leader who drove the Chandryaan 3 mission. Born in Lucknow, Karidhal had a great interest in science since childhood which further manifested in her becoming an ISRO scientist and aerospace engineer.

She led the development of Mangalyaan (India’s Mars Orbiter Mission) which will be remembered as one of the greatest accomplishments of ISRO. Chandryaan 2 was an important project led by Karidhal, which could not reach its final destination but gave high hopes to the countrymen.  
 
The mission Chandrayaan 3 emerged as a great success in Indian space history, wherein India became the first country to reach the south pole of the Moon, also led by Ritu Karidhal.  
 
Karidhal has done her graduation from Lucknow University with an ME in Aerospace from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). She was also appointed by the UK’s Minister for Women and Equalities Liz Truss to a newly formed Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC).

Nayanjot Lahiri, a history professor at Ashoka University and former University of Delhi faculty member, is a distinguished scholar with a rich academic background, having graduated from St Stephen's College and the University of Delhi. Her teaching tenure at Hindu College and the Department of History extended from 1982 to 1993. Lahiri held leadership roles at the University of Delhi, serving as Dean of Colleges (2007–2010) and Dean of International Relations (2006–2007). Beyond academia, she contributed to public service as a member of the Delhi Urban Art Commission (2007–2010) and currently serves on the Council of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society. Lahiri played a crucial role in analysing the impact of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance, 2010, leading to the drafting of an alternative bill that became law in March 2010. Recognised for her contributions, she received the Infosys Prize in 2013 for Humanities-Archaeology, and her book 'Ashoka in Ancient India' earned the prestigious 2016 John F Richards Prize.

Samina Mishra, a delhi-based documentary filmmaker, writer and educator, is a passionate advocate for children's voices and experiences. Her impactful work reflects a deep commitment to portraying the challenges of growing up in India through the lenses of childhood, identity and education. As the founder of The Magic Key Centre for the Arts and Childhood, Mishra goes beyond conventional storytelling, using her platform to be an ally for children and shape meaningful perceptions. Through her notable creations like 'Jamlo Walks' and 'Nida Finds a Way', she addresses pressing issues such as migrant struggles during the pandemic and advocates for the representation of Muslim children. Her dedication to children's literature as a tool for understanding, connecting and navigating complex realities underscores her role in fostering empathy and shaping societal perspectives. Her work exemplifies the transformative power of storytelling in amplifying children's voices and advocating for positive societal shifts.

Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande is a classical singer with scientific credentials. An eminent classical vocalist of Jaipur Atrauli Khayal Gayaki tradition, Deshpande has performed nationally and internationally, released albums and also published two books, Ragarachananjali and Ragarachananjali 2.

She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to music in 2014 and Kumar Gandharva Samman from the Madhya Pradesh Government in 2015, among others.

A phenomenal singer that she is, she also did doctorate in biochemistry from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.

Anuradha Kapur is an Indian theater professor and former director of National School of Drama (NSD). She spent over three decades as a teacher at the NSD and served as the institution's director for six years, from 2007 to 2013. She joined the faculty of NSD as an associate professor in 1981 and later became a professor. During her time, she taught many notable students who went on to make a mark in theatre and cinema. Later, she was appointed director of NSD and Chief of the NSD Repertory Company in 2007. She has taught at various institutions in India and abroad, including being a Fellow at Freie Universitat, Berlin from 2016-2017. She is also a Trustee of the Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation.

Currently, she is a visiting professor at Ambedkar University Delhi's School of Culture and Creative Expressions. 

In 2004, she has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her achievements as a theater director and the J Vasanthan Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Paro Anand is a Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar winner. She writes books for children, young adults and adults. Through her programme 'Literature in Action', she also works with children in schools & NGOs and holds a world record for helping above three thousand children make the world’s longest newspaper. She has also been awarded for her contribution to children’s literature by The Russian Centre for Science and Culture. 'No Guns at my Son’s Funeral', opened to rave reviews, was on the International Board on Books for Young People Honour List and has been translated into German and French. She has authored 'Like Smoke', 'The Other', 'Nomad’s Land' and co-authored 'Two' with Orjan Persson.

Image Credit:

https://www.facebook.com/authorparoanand?mibextid=ZbWKwL

THE 'EMPOWER-ERS'

Shaheen Mistri is an Indian social activist and educator. She is renowned as the creator of the Akanksha Foundation, a non-profit educational organisation in Mumbai and Pune. She is the founder of Teach for India and has been serving as the CEO since 2008. Some of her notable works include 'Redrawing India', 'The Teach for India Story' and 'Miss Muglie Goes to Mumbai'.

Mistri established ‘Teach For India’ with the ambitious goal of ensuring a high-quality education for every child in the country by mobilising a group of dedicated leaders who were determined to eradicate educational inequality. Presently, Teach For India is making a significant impact on the lives of 32,000 children through the efforts of more than 900 fellows and 250 staff members in eight cities. Furthermore, the organisation has successfully nurtured over 9,100 student alumni.

Meera Shenoy is founder of Youth4Jobs. She has been actively involved in various policy-making at both the central and state government levels. With her expertise, she has successfully executed large-scale projects. Recently, she served as the senior advisor for skilling and employment at UNDP, where she provided invaluable support to Subramaniam Ramadorai, the advisor to the Prime Minister on Skilling and Chairman of NSDA.

Farida Lambay is the founder trustee & executive secretary, Pratham Mumbai Education Initiative. She co-founded Pratham in 1995 after gaining 25 years of experience as a social activist and educator. Beyond her career as an educator and social worker, she is a person of unfathomable decency, values and morals.  

She leads the Pratham Council for Vulnerable Children and oversees Pratham's programmes in Mumbai and Gujarat.

Farida Lambay was awarded the ‘Sahyadri Navratna Award’ in 2013 for her significant contributions to social work and education for underprivileged children, the ‘HT award’ in 2015 and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Award for her significant contributions to education and child rights in 2015.  

Gauri Sawant is a transgender activist from Mumbai. She founded the Sakhi Char Chowghi Trust in 2000, an organisation committed to promoting safe sex practices and providing counseling services to transgender individuals. Alongside her advocacy work, Sawant manages 'Aajicha Ghar', the Sai Savli Foundation, which operates homes for girl children and elderly transgender individuals. These homes not only offer shelter, food, clothing and medication, but also create a loving, caring and accepting environment. Aajicha Ghar strives for children's education and nurtures and transforms them into beautiful and well-rounded young individuals, helping them realise their full potential and guiding them toward a better quality of life through counselling.

Safeena Husain is a social worker and founder of Educate Girls which is a non-profit organisation based in Mumbai. The organisation is dedicated to empowering communities to support girls' education in rural and underprivileged areas of India. Educate Girls, under her guidance, introduced the world's first Development Impact Bond in education, which surpassed its target outcomes upon completion in 2018.