Winners of 2014 - 2015



Seema Kohli

Seema Kohli's works reveal a claiming of feminine subjectivities and her brings into focus a woman's intellect, thought, dreams and realities. Her brush excavates, discovers and brings into focus, sights and sounds of this world within a world, capturing creation in creation, unearthing the cycle of life from under the miscellany of living.

Namita Gokhale

Being the Founder and Co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, Namita Gokhale has written six novels, a collection of short stories and several works of nonfiction. Gokhale has conceptualized the famous International Festival of Indian Literature, Neemrana 2002, and also The Africa Asia Literary Conference, 2006.

Anuradha Pal

Anuradha Pal is a world-renowned, multifaceted Tabla prodigy, multi-percussionist and Music composer and has been hailed as theFirst Professional Female Tabla playerin the world.
A disciple of tabla legends Late Ustad Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain, she became the first and the youngest woman Indian musician to perform at the WOMAD Festival in 1999, where she presented her band Stree Shakti - Asia’s first and much acclaimed all-female, percussion based vocal-instrumental ensemble, for 150,000 fans.



Lina Tipnis

Lina began her career by designing in 1987 for her retail outlet at the Oberoi, Mumbai and has been in the fashion industry for more than two decades. In 1996, she launched her label LlNARIKA which is now sold in over 30 stores in India as well as the U.K., Southeast Africa and the Middle East.
Carving a niche in the fashion arena, Lina Tipnis is known for diffusion and prêt clothing and has showcased her line of designs at various fashion weeks like Lakme Fashion Week, Banaglore Fashion Week and Rajasthan Fashion Week. Tipnis is the only Indian designer to have designed for Queen Rania of Jordon.

Dr. Mrudula Phadke

Dr. Phadke has been the first woman Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nasik. She has been a Consultant in UNICEF. She has been the Recipient of President of India’s Medal. Dr. Phadke has intense involvement in patient care, student teaching and research while working as Professor of Pediatrics. She Set up & enhanced the Department of Genetics at B.J. Medical college – the only center in Western Maharashtra, started with the help of Govt. of Maharashtra, Dept of Science & technology, Dept. of Biotechnology.

T K Anuradha

T K Anuradha played the lead role in ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) Indian Space programs as Project Manager, Deputy Project Director and Associate Project Director for Indian Remote Sensing and Indian Navigation programs.













Dipika Pallikal

Dipika Pallikal is an Indian squash player. She is the first Indian woman to break into the top 10 in the WSA Women’s Squash Association (WSA) rankings. In the 20th Commonwealth Games held in 2014, Dipika, won gold in the squash women's doubles event along with Joshna Chinappa.

Preeta Sukhtankar

Preeta Sukhtankar is the Founder at The Label Corp, Mumbai, India. The Label Corp is the first retail brand in India in the online marketplace to introduce a unique tastemaker-styled model.

Fazila and Kaamna

Fazila Allana and Kamna Nirula Menezes are the founders of SOL Production House. Since its inception eight years ago, Sol has produced numerous award-winning events & television shows and has been widely appreciated for setting new standards in production value, delivering fresh & distinctive content. Sol is known for consistently bringing new formats and innovative programming to Indian television including award-winning shows such as Koffee with Karan, Nach Baliye, Rakhi Ka Swayamwar, Zara Nach Ke Dikha and Just Dance.



Renutai Gavaskar

Renutai Gavaskar is the founder of Eklavya Nyas, which is home to children of sex workers, alcoholics, HIV affected patients, and single parents. In the myriad roles that she plays, Renutai is also a story therapist and considers story as an effective medium of Education.

Sumnima Udas

Sumnima Udas is an anchor and Reporter with CNN and has been associated with CNN since 2001.She has worked on several assignments such as the Delhi gang-rape, the Bangladesh garment factory collapse as well as the Commonwealth Games corruption scam.

Lina Ashar

Lina Ashar, Chairperson, Kangaroo Kids Education Ltd, is a global pioneer in children’s education. Propelled by her vision, Kangaroo Kids Education Ltd (KKEL) has become a leading education chain that is changing the way kids learn by introducing innovative learning strategies, fun-filled activities and an engaging curriculum.

Chitra Ramakrishna

Ms. Chitra Ramkrishna is the first woman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).