The much-awaited Dhoot presents Sanmarg Aparajita powered by BMD Group, Techno Electric & Engineering and Bengal Energy Awards announced the 11th Edition on August 28. It was helmed by the largest & most widely read Hindi daily in Eastern India – Sanmarg. These awards rejoice the inspiring & brave women from all over India who add honour to our country. On August 28, our digital literacy bus — e-कहानी for women above 45 will also be launched.
With our country celebrating its 75th year of Independence, this event had a special charm, thanks to the way Indian women have conquered and excelled in every sphere. Aparajita Awards just a single premise – Saluting Womanhood!
The awards are valued by one and all for the ‘truth’. In fact, the whole of Bengal celebrates the awards as its own. It started by recognising women achievers and unsung heroes from West Bengal. What the all inclusive Aparajita Awards showcase are women from pan-India, who dare to dream. The celebration is to recognise their triumphs.
Aparajita believes in awarding every woman who deserves to be in the forefront and also honouring the well-known & lesser known stories. The awards are all about honouring the firsts and unheard-of heroes.
The award category includes:
POPULAR AWARDS
Digital Media Influencer
Performing Arts
Gourmet Food & Hospitality
Business
Health & Wellness
Social Impact
JURY AWARD
Lifetime Achievement Award
Unsung Hero
You Inspire Law Award
You Shine Sports Award
You Inspire Patriotism Award
Digital Media Influencer award was felicitated to Saachi Bhasin for her contribution for lifestyle influencing and for showcasing elite variety in her field. Social Impact award was won over by Madhavita Bajoria for bringing significant experience in multi sectoral partnerships. This year the Performing Arts award was awarded to Richa Sharma for standing out and achieving laurels for her performances. Not to miss out the Gourmet Food and Hospitality award was handed over to Gita Devi Mody for her contribution to the hospitality sector and expertise in the field of gourmet food and culinary . Coming to the achievement in the field of business the award was won by Nikita Bansal who standouts as an example for all the women who have been leading top companies in our country . It is a honorary achievement to standout in the field of health and wellness and women have not been lesser in this field but all the more , the award for health and wellness was felicitated to Devina Fogla for leading the way for women as a lifestyle coach and also for promoting a healthy way of living which is an important aspect for each of us .
This year, Asia’s first loco pilot or train driver, Surekha Yadav was felicitated in the Unsung Hero award category. Yadav was the first ‘Ladies Special’ local train driver for Central Railways. She created history by becoming Asia’s first woman train driver to operate the Deccan Queen and has driven with an all-female crew between Mumbai to Lucknow.
Gulabo Sapera bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award. Gulabo or Dhanwanti is the creator of the Kalbelia dance and has been promoting this Rajasthani dance form. She is in UNESCO’s representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Mitali Madhumita awarded the You Inspire – Patriotism. Lt. Col Mitali became the 1st female officer to get the Sena Medal for valour in 2011. She received the medal for her bravery at the UN Mission in Kabul where she rescued 19 army training officers hurt in a terror attack.
Karuna Nundy given the You Inspire – Law award. This advocate at the Supreme Court of India is known for her litigation practice on constitutional law, along with commercial dispute resolution, tech and media law. This Time Magazine’s one of world’s 100 most influential people has taken up quite a few constitutional cases including criminalising marital rape, on free speech over broad criminal provisions that crush speech and on tech regulation.
94-year-old Bhagwani Devi Dagar has bagged the You Inspire – Sports award. She won the gold medal in the 100-meter sprint at the Tampere World Masters Athletics Championships after just 6 months of prior practice. She has bagged three gold medals for Delhi, three gold in Chennai for the national team and one gold and two bronze in Finland at the World Master Athletics.
For Aparajita Awards, it is a matter of great pride to honour all these women who have changed the very scenario of how we think and perceive women professionals.
The Aparajita Lifetime Achievement Award winners include Late Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi, Late Nabaneeta Dev Sen, Late Amala Shankar and Anjali Ela Menon. The living legend Amitabh Bachchan has given his blessings to the awards, apart from support from stalwarts like Late Mahashweta Devi.
The previous jury panel consisted of names like RS Goenka, Nayantara Pal Chowdhury, Utsav Parekh and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. The awards witness acclaimed guests from all walks who grace the ceremony.
Ruchika Gupta, Founder, Aparajita Awards, mentions, “The sensibilities and consciousness behind the 11th Edition of the Aparajita Awards is that every woman deserves to celebrate. We are very proud to say those two different aspects of a woman and two different professions are celebrated, starting from the 1st Loco Pilot in Asia to a 94-year-old dadi from the humble beginnings in a household kitchen to conquering the Supreme Court of New York. Our Aparajitas do it all and achieve it all. So today they have learned the art to celebrate themselves beyond all else.”
With the 11th Edition of Sanmarg Aparajita Awards on August 28, the time has come to recognise the ‘never give up’ spirit that burns in the heart of every Indian woman.
