WOMEN OF FAME

ASHA BHOSLE -All her life she had to play a

supporting role for her "Didi". She has a sensuous
voice that even Lata can't match. Nobody young or old
can match her allure. She is a great songstress who
can beat the new generation singers as well.

ASHA BHOSLE

(SINGER)
LATA MANGHESHKAR -She
is India's most recognizable
voice. Some of her songs are
pure and full of pathos that
would move us with tears. Even
at this age Lata, enthralls
everyone despite a number of
new generation singers coming
up. Nobody can replace this
singing Queen.
LATA MANGESHKAR

(SINGER)

BACHENDRI PAL- She went on to prove that if a man can do it,

then a woman can do by climbing the highest mountain peak in
the world. She is the first Indian woman to do so. An
impoverished childhood did not obstruct her path to hard work
and fame. Now she is busy at the Tata Steel Adventure
Foundation training the next generation of climbers.

BACHENDRI PAL
DR. INDIRA HINDUJA - She was the first Indian doctor to produce
a test tube baby. On August 6th, 1986, India's first test tube baby,
Harsha was born thanks to the three years of painstaking research
in invitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Now thanks to her,
many Indian women yearning for motherhood are getting hope

DR.INDIRA
 HINDUJA
KALPANA CHAWLA- She was a Tomboy, growing up in Karnal
in Haryana. She learned Karate in her early years and she dared
to dream. She had a special likening for flying. She qualified
from over 2962 applicants to earn herself a place in the Space
Shuttle Columbia for a 16 day out of the world experience. The
NASA chief called her a "Terrific astronaut". The U.S. space
shuttle Columbia with a seven-member crew that included
Chawla, 41, disintegrated in flames over central Texas shortly
before it was scheduled to land at Cape Canaversal in Florida.
KALPANA CHAWLA On February 1, 2003, at an altitude of 63 kilometers and a
velocity of 20,000 km/hr, Columbia disintegrated killing Kalpana
and her six colleagues.The satellite serves to perpetuate the
memory of Kalpana who sacrificed her life to the cause of
peaceful uses of outer space.

KIRAN BEDI - "It is always possible" is the philosophy of her life.

She is a Magsaysay Award winner for her writings. She is the most
controversial IPS woman officer who was known for hauling off
illegally parked cars in the city of Delhi, cleaning the Augean
Stables of Tihar Jail. In between she ruffled a few feathers

KIRAN BEDI

M.S.SUBBULAKSHMI- She had the voice of an angel and a face

to match. She brought Bhakthi to her music like none other. It was
purely spiritual quality that set her apart from many other voices.
Incomparable, unsurpassable, she was one of India's two
nightingales. One of the most influential singers of the last
century she died on 11 December 2004 in Chennai in India. Her
death is a great loss not only to Carnatic music but also to the
entire music world.
M.S.SUBBULAKSHMI
MANEKA GANDHI -She is the young "Bahu" of the Gandhi family.
She is a dedicated and vocal environmentalist who crusades for the
cause of animal rights which often land up her in controversies. She
also fights for human rights and has freed many children working in
the carpet industry.
 MANEKA GANDHI

MEDHA PATKAR -She is a frail, prematurely graying figure who is

fighting for the largest displacement of people on the banks of the
Narmada. She is against the combined forces of the World Bank,
The Government of India and an army of vested interests. She
carries the struggle onwards through her other social crusades via
the National Alliance of People's Movement.

MEDHA PATKAR

NAJMA HEPTULLAH - She has been the Deputy Chairman of

the Rajya Sabha for three terms, an achievement nobody has
equaled so far. During the tenure she maintained a fair play and
at the same time maintained her dignity and control amidst the
intemperate proceedings that often prevailed. One of her other
successful projects outside the Parliament has been the setting of
two all-woman post offices in Mumbai.
NAJMA HEPTULLAH

Pilavullakandi Thekaparambil Usha- She is a woman of great

determination. At the 1984 Olympics she heart-stoppingly came
near to winning India its first bronze medal in athletics but missed it
by the skin of her teeth. At the Asian Athletic events at Jakarta in
1985 she won many medals and got a huge haul of medals at the
8th Asian Games in Seoul.

P.T.USHA

REITA FARIA - She was the first Indian woman to win the
Miss world title in 1966. She made the whole world sit up
and look at India. By winning the crown, she showed the
way for later competitors and gave them a confidence that
they can take the world by storm. After her one year tenure
she refused modeling and films and concentrated on medical
studies which is a sure act to make the present day Miss
Worlds to look up on their promised professions.
DR. REITA FARIA POWELL
 SHOBHA DE - She was prefixed as the rebel but now her
writings sound matronly. Now and then she splutters with rage
over the misdoings of the younger generations. She can be held
responsible for the speeding up of the pace of sexual revolution in
India with her sensuous novels.

SHOBHA DE

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN - She is the mother of all herbal cosmetics in

India. Behind the veils lies a woman with sheer determination and
hard work. Her creams and lotions have found their way into salons
in different parts of the globe. She has 650 salons at 104 countries.

SHAHNAZ HUSAIN

USHA UTHUP - Her rich and resonant voice can be described as

honey flowing on gravel! Her identifications are that plump figure,
Kancheevaram saris, clinging glass bangles and a big Bindi. She
sings in 14 languages and is incredibly staying still in this field.

USHA UTHUP

ARUNDHATI ROY- She is a great writer and won the Booker Prize
for her debut novel, "the God of small things". She is a vociferous
supporter of the rights of Phoolan Devi.

MADHURI MATHUR- Almost 40 years ago this woman dreamed of a

kitchen machine that would blend, chop, mince and totally make her
life easier and then discussed it with her Engineer husband Mathur.
And then the sumeet mixer was born and is a household name still.
DEEPA MEHTA - Director. Her first film "Fire" ran into big
controversies but eventually the sensor board released it with little
cuts. We are eagerly awaiting more controversial films from her.

KARNAM MALLESWARI- Weightlifter. She is known as the "iron

woman" and she can be rightly called golden woman for all the gold
medals she had got for India. To her latest credit is the Bronze medal
in the 2000 Sydney Olympic games.

ANITA SOOD- She is the first woman who stroked her way
powerfully across the English Channel and became the fastest
Asian swimmer to have crossed

MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI DEVI- God woman. As a

child she wanted to serve the poor. Now called as
"Amma" she is offering hopes and solace to many
needy people in India. She has set up many charitable
institutions, educational centers and hospitals.

JAYALALITHAA - Film star turne

d politician. For her all the world's
a stage and she is moving from
spotlight to spotlight. She is the
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

SUHASINI MANIRATNAM - She is an award-

winning film actress and a film director with a
special concern for issues regarding woman. Her
marriage with Mani Ratnam, the famous film Director
in the South is a plus point for her. We are looking
forward from her, many good films.
ANJU BOBBY GEORGE - Anju Bobby George, made history
when she won the bronze medal in Long Jump at the World
Athletics Championships 2003 in Paris. With this achievement,
she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World
Athletics Championship clearing 6.70 m. Anju now ranks 6th in the
world. She also participated in the 2004 Olympics finishing 4th in
her event.

SANIA MIRZA- Sania Mirza became the first Indian to have won a
Grand Slam title when she triumphed in the girls' doubles event at
Wimbledon , partnering Alisa Kleybanova of Russia. She won the
Wimbledon junior girls' doubles title and became their "brand
ambassador" for 2004 - the year of the girl child.

SHOBHA DE Model, copywriter and the first editor of Stardust

and Society, Shobha De has published seven novels, Socialite
Evenings, Starry Nights, Sisters, Strange Obsessions, Sultry
Days, Snapshots and Second Thoughts, a collection of short
stories, Small Betrayals.

Kiran Majumdar-Shaw- Biotech entrepreneur.She is the CEO of

Biocon India Corp. She was born in Bangalore and educated in
Bishop Cotton Girls School and then Mount Carmel College. She
started Biocon in 1978 collaborating with an Irish firm, floated 2 joint
ventures, Biochemizyme and Biocon-Quest India Ltd.