India has a rich history of strong, intelligent, and pioneering women who have made immense contributions to society. As we celebrate women around the world on International Women’s Day, let’s take a look at some inspiring women in India across different fields.

The Fearless Politicians

Politics in India has long been a male-dominated space. However, these women proved everyone wrong by not only entering politics but also excelling at it with their fierce yet compassionate leadership styles.

Sushma Swaraj: As India’s External Affairs Minister from 2014 to 2019, Sushma Swaraj dedicated herself to helping Indians abroad in distress. She was also the youngest cabinet minister at age 25.

Nirmala Sitharaman: She made history in 2019 by becoming India's first full-time female Finance Minister, responsible for the country's economic growth.

The Ground-breaking Business Women

These innovative women in Business not only found business success but their ventures also drive social change.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: She pioneered India's biotechnology industry by founding Biocon in 1978. Today Biocon is worth billions, making Shaw one of India's richest self-made women.

Anita Dongre: Starting out by selling dresses out of a Mumbai boutique, Dongre now presides over a fashion empire valued at over $100 million. Her sustainable fashion brand "AND" promotes local craft and empowers female artisans in rural areas. She sets an example for empowering women through fashion.

The Inspiring Sport Stars

These athletic women put India on the global map with their record-shattering achievements in sports and by this they are Inspiring women in India to grow in every field.

P V Sindhu: As the first-ever Indian badminton player to become a World Champion, the Olympic silver medalist is an icon for aspiring female players across the country.

Mithali Raj: As captain of the Indian women’s national cricket team since 2005, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters ever. She also brought home India's first-ever silver medal in women's cricket at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Empowering Women from All Walks

Beyond politicians, CEOs, and athletes, thousands of ordinary Indian women display inspiring courage and compassion daily, uplifting their communities.

Laxmi Agarwal: An acid attack survivor at age 15, Laxmi turned a horrific experience into an opportunity to help other victims of such attacks. She went on to become an activist and TV host, using her platform to campaign for regulation of acid sales.

Arunima Sinha: Despite losing her leg at age 24 when a train robbed her of her dreams to be a national volleyball player, she bounced back. In 2013 she became the first female amputee to reach Mount Everest.

The Arts & Media Mavens

Indian women have made great strides in arts, media, and entertainment while shattering stereotypes.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas: This former Miss World became a leading Bollywood star before making waves in Hollywood. Named one of Time's most influential people, Chopra Jonas uses her celebrity power to highlight social issues like the education of girls.

Smashing STEM Stereotypes

We can't talk about inspiring women in India without mentioning those excelling in science, tech, engineering, and math—fields where women are still underrepresented.

Kalpana Chawla: She etched her name in history books as the first Indian woman to travel to space aboard the Columbia space shuttle in 1997. Her tragic death years later only strengthened her legacy as an inspiration for women in STEM.

Anandibai Gopal Joshi: More than a century ago when few women pursued medicine, Joshi became one of India’s first female doctors after graduating in 1886. She paved the way for women in healthcare.

Drivers of Social Progress

Some incredible women have dedicated their lives to uplift oppressed communities through social reform.

Savitribai Phule: A radical 19th-century activist, she revolutionized girls’ education by opening one of India’s first schools to educate female students in Pune in 1848.

Ela Bhatt: Founder of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Bhatt has helped mobilize millions of poor, self-employed women workers since 1972 to gain labor rights and socio-economic independence.

Achievers across Industries

Indra Nooyi: Her business prowess was legendary in her role as CEO of PepsiCo from 2006-2018 - one of the few female heads of global corporations. Under her leadership, PepsiCo’s revenues grew exponentially as she steered the company towards healthier products.

Arundhati Roy: This author and activist gained instant fame by winning the prestigious Man Booker Prize for her 1997 debut novel “The God of Small Things”. Outspoken on politics and social justice, her prolific writing highlights issues like environmental protection and India’s marginalized tribal communities.

Key Takeaway

From overcoming adversity to beating barriers in male spaces, achieving world-firsts for India, or driving social change—these are just some of the many inspiring women in India. Their stories reveal that courage, hope, and service to others can help women rise far above limitations imposed by gender or circumstance.