Delhi: 42 women achievers felicitated at Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar Mahila Samman-2025

Forty-two women were honoured with the Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar Mahila Samman-2025 at a grand ceremony held at the Prime Minister Museum on Thursday. The prestigious awards, organised by the Kamala Ankibai Ghamandiram Gowani Trust under the leadership of Nidarshana Gowani, recognised women from diverse backgrounds for their contributions to social activism, governance, entrepreneurship, arts, sports and more.

The event was graced by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Manohar Lal Khattar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel, BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari, who felicitated the awardees.

Among the honourees was Raghavi, a trans rights activist and lawyer working with the High Court and Supreme Court. Expressing her gratitude, she told The Tribune, “I work for the rights of the trans-queer community through legal advocacy and policymaking. Being recognised for this work is truly humbling. It’s inspiring to see such diversity here, with people from different backgrounds coming together for social progress.”

Celebrated chef and cookbook author Renu Dalal, daughter of legendary chef Tarla Dalal, was also recognised for her contributions to the culinary world. She said, “I have written three cookbooks, promoting vegetarian food in a unique and creative way. This award encourages me to continue sharing my passion with people across India and beyond.”

Other distinguished awardees included Pana Devi for her work in tribal welfare, Madhavi Latha for disability rights advocacy, Watila Longkumer for empowering women, Chandra Prabha Nair for environmental conservation, Neeru Yadav for rural development, Shristhi Srivastava for entrepreneurship, Kanika Pradeep for innovation in education, Shanti Vishwakarma for community health work, Palak Muchhal for her philanthropic efforts in music and Swati Goyal for grassroots activism.

Addressing the gathering, Nitin emphasised the importance of fostering an inclusive society that values equality. “Building a society that abolishes feelings of inferiority is essential. Our Constitution promotes social and economic equality, and this award celebrates women who inspire us. I commend each awardee for their remarkable contributions, resilience, and dedication,” he said.

Highlighting the evolving role of women in leadership, Khattar remarked, “It is uplifting to see my brothers join in this celebration. This award honours the invaluable contributions of women to our society. We are witnessing a remarkable transformation as women step into leadership positions.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Anupriya Patel stated, “These achievements are a testament to the strength and potential of women in our society. As we celebrate them, let us reaffirm our commitment to ensuring their voices are heard in every sphere.”

Organiser Nidarshana Gowani reflected on the significance of the event, saying, “The women we honour today are breaking barriers and driving positive change in society. Their strength, resilience and determination serve as an inspiration for generations to come.” The Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar Mahila Samman-2025 not only celebrated excellence but also reinforced the commitment to empowering women across all sectors.