Gender

Founded by Mathangi Swaminathan in 2021, Parity Lab turns personal trauma into collective strength — empowering survivors of gendered violence to become leaders. Through immersive fellowships and community-led healing, the initiative has impacted over 70,000 lives across India.

They’ve braved rugged roads, shattered stereotypes, and turned fear into fuel. Meet the unstoppable women of CRF Women on Wheels, rewriting what it means to be a biker in India.

With heavy machinery at their fingertips and determination in their hearts, these women are transforming mining. Backed by L&T’s vision, they've shown that change isn’t just possible — it’s happening.

The men of the Sundarbans brave tiger attacks and snake-infested waters to gather honey, often sacrificing their lives for their livelihoods. They leave behind their wives, who are ostracised from society.

Nikhil Taneja, founder of Yuvaa, a youth media company, went through a period of great anxiety when he was doing well in his career. This led him to take a break and look at what success really means, breaking out of the definitions of what it means to be a man, and the roles defined by society.

Raised in an orthodox home, Lakshmi Murthy turned menstrual stigma into design-led change. Through cloth pads, visual manuals, and gender education, she’s scripting a new way for rural India to talk about periods, dignity, and sustainability.

Development Alternatives is reshaping rural India by turning job seekers into job creators. It has enabled 26,000+ enterprises, powering local economies through inclusive entrepreneurship.

Rajat Mittal was constantly told that he should colour within the lines and ‘be more boyish’. Today, he is driving a positive narrative through his content about why men don’t always have to be ‘masculine’. They simply need to be themselves.

Captain Dr Sunaina Singh traded expectations for her dreams, becoming the first woman from her village to serve in the Indian Army.

Change does not need to be monumental; sometimes it’s a series of small steps that create a revolution. In this piece, we explore the 10 most compelling trailblazers.