Top 3 Indian Women Leaders Who Rose Against All Odds

They say leadership is a virtue, not a title or designation. Almost every leader who has walked the planet is a testament to that, with Indian women being no exception. In a largely patriarchal society such as India, women have been traditionally recognised as homemakers, but during the last few decades, things have started to change for good. On one hand, government bodies have been continuously rolling out women empowerment schemes, on the other, many NGOs in the country are offering women leadership programs. Attribute it to the country’s changing dynamics or their relentless zeal, the fact remains the same that a number of women from India have defeated all barriers to position themselves on global podiums. Here are three such women leaders who continue to inspire women from all over the world.

1. Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is unarguably one of the first names that come to mind when we talk about Indian women leaders. Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, she spent her early life in Theagaraya Nagar, a commercial and residential locality, hosting a plethora of shops selling saree and jewellery. A science graduate, she completed Post Graduate Programme Diploma from IIM Calcutta in 1976, after which she joined Yale School of Management to pursue a master's degree in Public and Private Management. She is currently a board member and CEO of PepsiCo for more than two decades.

2. Pratibha Patil

Pratibha Patil, the 12th President of the Republic of India, is the only woman leader in the history of the country to hold the presidential office. Born in Nandgaon, a humble village in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, she received her early education at R. R. Vidyalaya, Jalgaon, and completed a master's degree in Political Science and Economics from Mooljee Jaitha College, Jalgaon. At age 27, She was elected as the MLA for the Jalgaon constituency, after which she won in the Muktainagar constituency four times. In 1985, she became a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, and in 1991, she was elected as the MP (Lok Sabha) from Amravati.

3. Sarojini Naidu

An activist by passion and a poet at heart, Sarojini Naidu was known for her staunch stance on civil rights, women's emancipation, and imperialism, which made her an eminent name in the history of India's struggle for independence. Born in Hyderabad, Telangana, she was the first woman to assume the role of the president of the INC (Indian National Congress), which back then, was primarily dominated by male leaders. She was also one of the few women to actively participate in the Satyagraha movement and also participated in the Round Table Conference with the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Final Thought 

While the list of women leaders who have managed to defeat all odds is endless, the fact remains the same. Countless women in the country are still deprived of the basic means they need to spread their wings. While government bodies and NGOs are doing their bit by offering women’s leadership programs, a landslide change cannot be expected unless we realize that we too have a role in making the country an ideal nurturing ground for one and all, no matter the gender. Those who are not in a position to personally contribute their time can always join hands with dedicated NGOs for women’s leadership program. Things will change, but only if we do.