Indian Female Educationist: Without women, the planet and existence as a society would be incomplete. Females are natural producers who convey a feeling of inclusiveness that the world craves. India has produced several remarkable women in many domains such as art, literature, and science. Some of them have had a significant impact on education. Their contributions have inspired women of all generations to fight for their rights, educate themselves, and strive for the betterment of women and society.

Millions of individuals have been educated, uplifted, and influenced by female educators worldwide. On Women’s Day, we present some of India’s most significant female educators who have contributed to the country’s education, freedom, and growth. The article discusses the lives of twenty Indian female educationists and famous educated women in India.

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List of the 20 Most Inspiring Women in the Education Field

Indeed, the number of phenomenal women who have contributed to uplifting Indian society is endless. So many women work day and day without any expectations. Many names go unheard. These unsung heroics are slowly transforming the face of the country. So in this article, we bring you the stories of some of them. Here is the list of the top 20 most influential women in India.

1. Savitribai Phule- Any article in the field of Women’s Education goes incomplete without mentioning this phenomenal woman, Savitribai Phule. She happens to be India’s first female teacher. It is essential to understand that women hardly had access to Education during the early times, especially in India. Savitribai Phule fought all odds, such as the caste system, male dominance, etc. It was unimaginable and impossible for any woman to step up and stand for a cause. However, Savitribai Phule broke all the chains and strove for women’s education in India. She didn’t do it in words but in action. She became a living example in herself. 

With the support of her husband and tireless effort to promote equal education for all, Savitri Phule and her family became a living example of breaking various preconceived notions. Her story became a stepping stone for different other girls in India to pursue education. They also started a school for girls and the ‘Native Library’. The idea was to reach out to maximum students across the country. 

Just one person became the torchbearer for many. They also took the responsibility of a widow’s son and arranged inter-caste marriage for him. This evil still prevails in society. Savtribai Phule set a commendable, impossible example for many lives at that time. Today, Savitribai Phule University Pune has been built after her name. This university carries out the legacy of holistic education.

Indeed the whole nation salutes Savitribai Phule for her significant efforts in education and reforms in the society.

2. Asima Chatterjee- Another notable woman in the Education field is Asima Chatterjee. She happens to be the first woman to be awarded a Doctor in Science by an Indian University in 1944. She is the first woman to be elected as the General President of the Indian Science Congress, a premier institute in scientific research. Her primary inclination was toward national products in Medicinal Chemistry. She had been awarded various accolades and titles. Some of these awards were CV Raman Award, PC Ray Award and the, Padma Bhushan Award, and there were many such recognitions. 

She also contributed her share through her notable work in editing and writing.  In the 1940s, she served as HOD of Chemistry subject at Lady Brabourne College, Calcutta. Asima Chatterjee has contributed to various research work. Her invaluable contribution to the Chemistry of Natural Products field is infinitely valuable. She was elected as the General President of the Indian Science Congress in 1975. She contributed a notable share by becoming an example to herself. 

3. Meghna Ghai, President of Whistling Woods School- Cinema, has the power to transform the masses. It is the most powerful medium of communication in any society. Also, looking at the current world, the transformation of the cinematic platform is very much visible. From big screens to OTT, from mainstream drama to education and intellectual genres, films are taking shape in almost all the spheres of life. 

Realising this importance, Meghna Ghai started an institute, a community where the future aspirants can evolve and brainstorm to produce valuable creative films. Meghna Ghai was born and brought up in such an environment. She grew up watching her father Subhash Ghai’s movies. So no wonder she profoundly understands the pulse of cinema.

Taking the responsibility to educate the masses, she is now running one of the prominent film schools in India. It was started in the year 2006 and currently has become a dream of thousands of young aspirants who want to study and train in cinema. Students here are exposed to wide-ranging genres, opinions, and viewpoints. It gives them a holistic approach to developing a better understanding of cinema. Meghna Ghai is truly an inspiration for many. She has led a path for thousands of aspiring students in India.  

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4. Chandraprabha Saikiani- No wind will be a hurdle when a woman strives with the storm of rage and grit to empower herself. Chandraprabha Saikiani shares an extraordinary story of how she defeated all the odds and got herself educated no matter what. After receiving her education, she started her endeavour at 13. Truly she touched and uplifted so many lives that India could not imagine at that time. Chandraprabha has received a scholarship to study at Nagaon Mission School. Her significant contribution to Education is still relevant in Assam state. She started Asam Pradeshik Mahila Samity, which is currently running as well. Also, Chandraprabha Saikiani Centre for Women Studies was opened in 2009 by Tezpur University. 

5. Vimla Kaul- She is an example of the great saying, “ Be young at heart and not age.”  Vimla Kaul, at the age of 80 years, is going all out and providing education to children in a small village Madanpur Khadar, Delhi. For the past 20 years, she has continued this educational endeavour. 

She closely noticed a lack of commitment and worked in the education field for underprivileged students. Vimla took responsibility on her shoulder and strove to uplift kids in the capital city. The prominent region is Sarita Vihar. Despite the lack of infrastructure and proper building, Sarita Kaul is unstoppable and continues with excellent work. 

6. Shukla Bose- She is a truly modern age example of inspiring women in the Educational field. Bose shares a 2-decade long experience in the corporate industry. However, despite all the lucrative offers and a lavish lifestyle, she felt a need to uplift people’s lives. So she left her job in hospitality and started her endeavour in “Parikrma Humanity Foundation ” intending to introduce at least one student (living in the family) from each family of Banglore.

Bose believes in holistic and dynamic education. Recent reports have stated that students at Parikrama are performing as great as any other prominent school in the country. Truly Shukla Bose is bridging all the gaps, be it gender disparity, economic disparity or any kind of difference. Today up to 1,600 students are attending Parikrma. Indeed Shukla Bose is an inspiration for all Indians. 

7. Ramabai Ranade- Ramabai Ranade was born around 1863. Getting married at an early age of 11 to an educator MG Ranade, Ramabai, got encouraged to complete her education. She soon specialised in various subjects and became an active member of Prarthana Samaj (founded by her husband). She organised various educational programs for women and poor people as well. These people were trained in wide-ranging subjects such as vocation, language and healthcare. She fought against child marriage. She formed Seva Sadan in the later stage of her life. This movement was dedicated to deprived and distressed women. 

8. Mahadevi Verma- She is a prominent writer, poet, and educationist in India. She has added unparalleled joy to so many people’s childhood in India. Many would recall the story of a squirrel as a fond memory of their student life. She has widely been known for contributing to the “Chhayavaad ” movement. She has also been regarded as one of the prominent poets in Hindi Kai Sammelan. Later on, she became the Vice Principal of Prayag Mahila Vidyapeeth. 

Her stories and folklore, such as Yama, Neelkanth, Gillum, etcetera, are countless notable works that have touched many’s hearts and are alive to date. She also received many awards and accolades during her lifetime. It includes Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, Jnanpith Award and Padma Bhushan. There is so much when it comes to the acknowledgement and works of Mahadevi Verma. All one knows is she resides in everyone’s heart with the notable work she contributed in her lifetime. 

9. Durgabai Deshmukh- She is widely known as Iron Lady. An Indian fighter, social worker, lawyer, and politician, Durgbai Deshmukh was a member of India’s Constituent Assembly and Planning Commission. Born in Andhra Pradesh, Durga was married at an early age when she was eight years old. However, she left her husband in pursuit of completing her education. She finished her bachelor’s in BA degree and Masters’s in MA in the 1930s. Despite all odds, the iron lady stood tall and unwavering. 

She obtained a law degree in 1942. It is important to understand this was when India was still under the control of the British Raj. This meant education was a far fetched goal, that too for a woman to complete her studies, it becomes nothing more than a dream. Durgabai Deshmukh continued despite whatever the circumstance was. She fiercely participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement. Durgabai was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi. 

She propagated Gandhi’s ideas and educated countless women by training them in various skills such as weaving and stitching. She understood that the shortcomings of a nation were lying in prevalent superstitions, lack of education and inferior treatment of women. Making their upliftment core of her life, Durgabai strove in that direction throughout her life. She was awarded national and international awards. These included: the Paul G Hoffman Award, UNESCO Award (for outstanding work in the field of literacy), Nehru Literacy Award, and Padma Vibhushan. 

10. Roshini Mukherjee- Do you know the founder of the Exam Fear online platform? Is it the largest study platform for aspiring students studying from classes 6 to 12 in the various subjects and NEET preparation? The woman behind all this transformation is Roshini Mukherjee. When the world is online, why not harness maximum value online only? This young lady based her education model on these lines only. It is not a hidden fact that so many students struggle with studies during their school days. What fears most of them is not about solving a problem but about fear of study itself. This further leads to anxiety about failing or not being able to fit the standards. 

Roshini could vividly see all these problems and couldn’t ignore them under the carpet. She, therefore, started her new endeavour of Exam Fear to help kids of various age groups. It seemed a completely different decision for the people around them as she left her lucrative IT job and threw herself into pursuing her passion for teaching. In her early stages, she created simple YouTube videos. It provided education content for free. She would explain complex concepts with a straightforward approach. Her way of teaching is broad and very conducive. She utilises a visual approach and visual depiction to explain the study topics. She has made thousands of videos and has reached a number of students. Roshini continues to inspire everyone with her simplistic and inspiring approach. 

11. Mukti Dagli- “Lack of vision could not stop Mukti’s vision.” At the age of 7, young Mukti lost her vision. However, that did not defeat her. She got herself trained in diploma training for blind students. She pursued her BA degree in arts and passed it with first division. It is often said that struggles bring out polish one’s life like a diamond. However, for her, the definition of her existence was different as that experience acquainted her with the realities which people otherwise are not. She translated it into her mission and went on to teach blind people, especially women. 

She started Mukta Seva Kunj. It is a non-profit school for visually impaired women. People here are trained as beauticians, chefs, electrical engineers, etcetera. Her idea of education and learning is not limited to only studies. Her concept is based on true empowerment and social reform. Understanding the grasp of marriage in the system, Mukti Dagli took up that responsibility too. She successfully arranged 164 weddings in the last ten years. She supported the marriage of blind pairs. Truly the nation salutes Mukti Dagli for the contribution she made. She has been an integral medium in transforming so many lives in the country. Mukti has been awarded the Padma Shri award. She also received Nari Shakti Puruskar for uplifting women. Her idea was simple and straightforward. She has experienced the crushing realities of life. 

12. Vasudha Prakash- She happens to have completed her education in doctoral studies in the USA. She would often base her research on special schooling in India. Understanding the ground reality of education in India, Vasudha Prakash took off her dream a step ahead. She started the V-Excel Online platform. She has focussed on compulsory and inclusive education. V-Excel strives to empower specially-abled students through art, dance and music. Vasudha believes in holistic training, and therefore, she also imparts skill development in various vocational programs such as cooking, car washing, gardening, planting and more. She envisions expanding her endeavour in the next 15 years. 

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13. Radha Goenka- Modern Times problems call for Modern Day solutions. Radha Goenka is one such social entrepreneur who understands the pulse of the situation and is thriving to impact the Indian education system in her unique way. She has pursued higher education at Pennsylvania University. Had she wanted, she would have got the best offers from all around the world. However, she wanted to work for her own country and started making an effort toward it.

She first noticed that parents spend their hard money on inexpensive education of students in private schools in the country, although government schools provide free education. She tried to understand why the quality of education, facilities available etc., are dismal in government schools. So Radha has set out to fill this gap and improve the quality of teaching and facilities in government schools.

Her organisation has developed a unique curriculum which promotes the English language and creative learning. Her organisation is an NGO that has partnered with 2000 government schools. Here the idea is to empower students with innovative thinking and independent learning. 

The growth has been tremendous and exponential. Her organisation has reached out to up to lakhs of students in a matter of 1 year (since 2019).

14. Sangeetha Rao-  She is a Special Education educator/ teacher. Her journey didn’t start as an educator straightaway. She was a fashion designer before undertaking education full time from 2007 onwards. She pursued her Special education diploma, and after that, there was no turning back. Sangeetha closely studied the USA education model. This helped her bring freshness and creativity to the current Indian education system for specially-abled students. 

Sangeetha Rao is focused on changing the map of education by providing conducive spaces to such kids where they feel welcomed and appreciated. There are various learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and more. In such situations, a student is either unable to learn or understand a situation like other children. Sangeetha believes that this problem can only be solved by providing students that space and ambience where they feel understood and included. 

15. Seema Mahajan- True education will only come when a person understands its depth. It is not just about studying or rot learning. Education provides holistic nurturing to the students to shape their future in a promising direction. Seema understood the importance of entrepreneurship today. Especially in India, which is a land of local businesses. But the country witnessed a dramatic change wherein significantly fewer students would opt for entrepreneurship. This calls for support for aspiring students in this domain. 

Along with other MBA faculty members, Seema started her endeavour to support second and third-generation entrepreneurs in this country. Having been a faculty of one of the top B-Schools of the nation, NMIMS Mumbai, she understands the pulse of the business in the country today. She started her own Family Business and Entrepreneurship initiative through one of the most prominent Business schools, Pravin Dalal School of Family Business and Entrepreneurship Management. Seema has provided platforms to many families and eager aspirants with a collective initiative. The nation salutes the efforts of women like Seema.

16. Geeta Dharmrajan- Students require creative learning. Geeta Dharmrajan is a teacher and an educator who writes children’s books. She is an editor and a social worker. Understanding the need to impart holistic education to the children, Geeta started her initiative, popularly known as the Katha school. She published various children’s magazines, articles and editions. Katha school was established in 1989. This institute started with five students, and today it is a family of more than 20,000 women students. In total, there are up to 45,000 students in the Katha family with up to 43 training labs. More than 2000 slum volunteers support the Katha family. Truly just an igniting mind of this single individual has transformed many lives.

17. Amudhavalli Ranganathan- The daughter of famous entrepreneur CK Ranganathan is leaving no stone unturned to uplift education in Indian society. Utilising her privilege to channel it in a holistic direction, Amudhavalli started a preschool CK Wonder Kidz in 2014. We all are known to CK groups of Institutions. She plays an active role in improving the education systems at all levels. 

COVID 19 hit many with a lack of access to formal education. However, it didn’t deter the spirits of the doers. Amudhavalli is one of them. She instead came up with new ideas to impart education continually. She also organised online classroom sessions in various states, such as Tamil Nadu. Another significant improvement we saw this year was National Education Policy. Amudhvalli is determined to apply the new guidelines in the CK Educational groups at various levels.  

18. Begum Zafar Ali- She paves the way for many others when a single woman stands up. Begum Zafar Ali is one such woman. She hailed from Kashmir, where education would be a distant dream for many, especially for women. Begum was the first woman to enrol in Kashmir. She went on to become an inspector of schools in the state.

She played many roles in empowering women in her lifetime. She worked as an Educationist, Deputy Director of Education, Women’s Liberation Activist,  and a legislature in Jammu and Kashmir state. Her story sets a true example that nothing is impossible. Despite crushing circumstances, Begum became a source of inspiration for many other women in the coming generations. 

19. Uma Pathak- We can move forward to an equitable society only when the underprivileged are educated. Education can bring about true transformation in the quality of life of a country. Uma Pathak is working with these notions only. Taking inspiration from her father, Uma decided to start the SPS foundation in 2018. In villages in India, parents often do not allow their children, especially daughters, to pursue education. Uma understands the depth of such a situation and is working to educate as many as possible by providing a safe environment. 

The current pandemic has not been a barrier for her. Instead, her concern is to reach out to as many as possible. She has distributed masks, gloves and sanitisers to various people in India, such as Aligarh, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. It is important to understand that education infrastructure plays a key role in the development of kids in the longer run. So with her endeavour, Uma is currently working to uplift as many by renovating government schools, buildings and colleges. 

20. Kumari Shibulal- Many students in the country miss out on their education because of the lack of financial support. Kumari Shibulal understood this need, so she started Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiative (SFPI). Under this initiative, they began offering scholarships to the students. At first, the scholarship was provided to only two students in 1999. The organisation supports underprivileged students across various education levels. They have various programs for different levels of education. Ankur is a residential scholarship program which is offered to school going students. Another scholarship program called Sathiya is offered to students aspiring for a career in hospitality. Under the SFPI, students who wish to pursue higher education are provided flagship programs like Vidyadhan. 

Documentum is also another initiative dedicated to students who wish to shape a career in hospitality. Students who wish to participate in the scholarship are supposed to fulfil specific eligibility criteria, such as one must secure a minimum of 95% in class 10th and must have a family income of less than Rs 2 Lakhs. Over the last 20 years, many students have received benefits under this scholarship. This scheme helped up to 17,000 students in their educational development. Moreover, this scholarship has benefited 200+ doctors and 900+ engineers.