There are so many inspiring female personalities from India attributable to the rich and diverse history of this country in South Asia. In politics, sports, science, arts – Indian women have come out of their shell, defined traditions and opened new roads for others to follow.
In this broad article, we know about the Famous Women Personalities of India or significant women of Indian history and their accomplishments.
Source: Google Images
Here below the list of Famous Women Personalities of India
| No. | Famous Women Personalities | Related Fields |
| 1 | Indira Gandhi | Politics |
| 2 | Mother Teresa | Philanthropy |
| 3 | Kalpana Chawla | Space Exploration |
| 4 | Mary Kom | Sports (Boxing) |
| 5 | Arundhati Roy | Literature/Activism |
| 6 | Lata Mangeshkar | Music |
| 7 | Saina Nehwal | Sports (Badminton) |
| 8 | Aishwarya Rai Bachchan | Entertainment |
| 9 | Kiran Bedi | Law Enforcement |
| 10 | Indra Nooyi | Business |
| 11 | Pratibha Patil | Politics |
| 12 | Sania Mirza | Sports (Tennis) |
| 13 | Gita Gopinath | Economics |
| 14 | Rani Lakshmibai | Freedom Fighter |
| 15 | Sarojini Naidu | Politics/Poetry |
| 16 | Avani Chaturvedi | Military Aviation |
| 17 | Savitribai Phule | Social Reform |
1. Indira Gandhi – India’s Iron Lady
Source: Google Images
It is generally beneficial to analyze the role of one of the most outstanding personalities in the history of Indian politics, Indira Gandhi. They regard her as the country’s first and, to date, the only female Prime Minister, whose impact influenced the country’s development.
A leader of the Congress Party, Gandhi was between 1966 and 1977, and then from 1980 to her death in 1984.
Key Accomplishments:
• The Independer Bank was nationalised and privy purses were done away with.
• The formation of Bangladesh after the triumph in the 1971 war against Pakistan
• Started the Green Revolution to increase food production.
• He was involved in the planning of India’s first nuclear test in 1974.
Although appreciated for having a powerful impulse as a leader, Gandhi was criticised for a state of emergency in 1975-1977, when people’s rights were limited. Nevertheless, the consequences of Indira Gandhi’s actions in Indian politics and society are difficult to overestimate.
2. Mother Teresa
Source: Google Images
Mother Teresa started her mission in India originally from Macedonia with the name Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She joined the Sisters of Loreto community at the age of 18, and in 1929 moved to India to devote herself to the care of the poor and sick in Kolkata.
Major Contributions:
• It was in 1950 that he founded the Missionaries of Charity.
• Erected hospices, children’s homes, clinics for those with AIDS and leprosy
• The Cuban, was in the news headlines when awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her philanthropy.
• This action was completed only recently by the Roman Catholic Church and St. Giovanni paid her the honour of sainthood in 2016.
Mother Teresa’s passion for aiding the ‘poorest of the poor’ touched the hearts of millions across the world and proved instrumental in drawing the attention of the whole world to the conditions in which some of the poor of India still live.
3. Kalpana Chawla
Source: Google Images
Kalpana Chawla’s case can be considered a revolution as she was the first woman of Indian origin going to space. It shows the journey of this girl belonging from Karnal in Haryana to NASA is a testimony to that.
Career Highlights:
• Among the astronaut candidate group that was chosen by NASA for astronaut training in 1994.
• First space mission in 1997 on columbia shuttle
• Spent more than 30 days, 14 hours, and 54 minutes of his total 209. 98 days in space in two missions.
• Sadly died in the Columbia tragedy in 2003
Indian girls in particular can look up to the austere and relentless Dr Chawla, who has shown them that they too can dream of going to space.
She is honoured by several scholarships and institutions which are established in her honour.
Must Read: Top 10 Indian Woman Scientists
4. Mary Kom
Source: Google Images
Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, professionally called Mary Kom is one of the most successful boxers of India. Born in Manipur, she has been the queen of women’s boxing for more than twenty years.
Notable Achievements:
• Is a two-time Asian Games gold medalist, and the only woman ever to win the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times.
• Soccer Player in the Brazil national team, Bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic games
• Winner of both the 2014 Asian Games and the 2018 Commonwealth Games
• This scalded boxing star, ‘Magnificent Mary’ has devastated the strong men of her time.
Other than being a sportswoman, Mary Kom has been at the forefront in supporting women’s issues, and has encouraged many young women to take up boxing and other forms of exercise.
5. Arundhati Roy
Source: Google Images
Arundhati Roy is one of the most recognized writers, activists, and commentators in India and worldwide for her strident rhetoric and her critical stance on different social and political matters.
Literary and Activist Career:
• She was awarded the Booker Prize in 1997 for the first and only novel “The God of Small Things”.
• Wrote several other non-fiction books on phenomena such as globalisation, proliferation of nuclear weapons, and capitalism
• Notorious for involvement in environmental and human rights issues
• Famous for her articles and lectures, which caused much debate and concerned such issues
In India and globally, through his art, Roy has created awareness on human rights, issues affecting the environment and political leadership accountability.
6. Lata Mangeshkar – The Nightingale of India
Source: Google Images
They all found Lata Mangeshkar, who sang for Mohammad Saeed, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, yourself and every other actor in Indian cinema for more than seven decades, and became one of the most revered and beloved personalities in Indian music.
Musical Legacy:
• More than 36 versions of the songs are now available in Indian languages.
• Also known as the ‘Well Known face of Satyam’ recipient of many honours is one of the proud bearer of Bharat Ratna which is the highest civilian honour of India.
• Is credited for holding the Guinness World Record of most recorded artist in history.
• Entertained presidents and kings and played at many great places in the world
The legacy of Lata Mangeshkar for Indian music is inequivalent, and her songs remain inspirational for millions of people of any age.
7. Saina Nehwal
Source: Google Images
Saina Nehwal is another sports personality who has placed Indian badminton on the world map with all her talent and victories.
Career Milestones:
• He is the first Indian sportsman to win an Olympic medal in badminton – bronze at the 2012 London Olympics.
• Ex 1st world champion in women singles
• More than a quarter of a century and 11 Superseries titles.
• It is also one of the highest civilian awards of India where I have been privy to receive Padma Bhushan awardee.
Saina Nehwal has given birth to a new generation of Indian badminton players and has also placed the sport on a new high in India.
8. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Source: Google Images
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a Miss World of 1994 who has come a long way to today’s recognition as one of India’s most prominent actresses in Bollywood and beyond.
Career Highlights:
• Physically challenged but she was crowned Miss World in 1994
• Well-settled job in bollywood doing exceptionally well in superset hits like “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” and “Devdas”.
• Dipti first Indian actress ever to be a jury member at the Cannes International Film Festival
• Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF since 2012
Apart from her active acting career, she is actively involved in the social welfare activities and is a product brand ambassador for various organizations of the world.
9. Kiran Bedi- India’s First Woman IPS Officer
Source: Google Images
Kiran Bedi was the first woman IPS officer of India when she joined the service in 1972. The changes that she has affected in her career and the core value that she displays is a fight for the needy.
Key Achievements:
• Successfully introduced serious prison reforms whilst serving as Inspector General of Prisons, Tihar Jail
• Awardee of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1994
• I was privileged to serve as a Police Advisor to the UNSG
• Most active in anti-corruption activities and social causes
This has also made Bedi to be a role model to many women to join the field of law enforcement and public service.
10. Indra Nooyi
Source: Google Images
Indra Nooyi who is now the CEO of the global Food and beverages company PepsiCo is an excellent example of successful leadership in the business world.
Professional Milestones:
• Former CEO of PepsiCo appointed from 2006 and remained in that position until 2018.
• Often cited as top and powerful woman in the world by Forbes and Fortune magazine
• Launched Performance with Purpose strategy for PepsiCo Company, the goal of reducing products impact on health and the planet.
• CEO of BT Sport and a board member of both Amazon and the International Cricket Council
Nooyi’s achievements in the corporate world have paved the way for women and especially those of immigrant descent in business.
11. Pratibha Patil- India’s first woman President
Source: Google Images
Pratibha Patil’s presidency of the world’s largest democracy from 2007 to 2012 made her the first woman to occupy the office of the President of India. She has been a politician for more than three decades and she occupied different leadership positions.
Political Career Highlights:
• Was a Governor of Rajasthan before he took up the position of the President.
• Served in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the maximum time (1962-1985).
• Has been appointed as minister in several departments of the Maharashtra state government
• She is renowned for campaigning for female rights as well as social causes.
This was a highlight of India’s struggle towards observing gender equality as far as political office is concerned under Patil’s presidency.
12. Sania Mirza – Tennis Ace
Source: Google Images
Sania Mirza’s victory on the Tennis court has placed her among the best-known Sports personalities of India and young icons to follow.
Career Achievements:
• First Indian to win a WTA Tour title in singles
• The former world no 1 in doubles
• Six times Australian Open champion in doubles and mixed doubles
• A Padma Bhushan recipient for her services to sports in India
His success can be said to have helped lift tennis in India and many young girls have been encouraged to engage in the game.
13. Gita Gopinath
Source: Google Images
Currently, the first Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Gita Gopinath is among the most influential economists in the globe.
Professional Accomplishments:
• First woman in the post of the Chief Economist of the IMF (2019-2022).
• John Zwaanstra is now Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University.
• Co-Director of the International Finance and Macroeconomics program at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
• Head Hunter’s global list for the 25 best young economists in the world in 2014
Thus, the experience of Gopinath has a great impact on the development of economic policies worldwide, including the COVID-19 pandemic response.
14. Rani Lakshmibai
Source: Google Images
Britain’s Rani Lakshmibai alias Jhansi ki Rani was one of the chief uprising of India’s First or the first war of Indian independence in 1857. She has always been remembered for her courage and command which she possessed during the fight against the British colonial power.
Historical Significance:
• Took command of the forces in Jhansi, and fought the British East India Company
• Excluded Jhansi from the agreement and did not agree to the British’s policy of the Doctrine of Lapse.
• They were killed while fighting on the battlefront, and thus becoming martyrs in the Indian freedom struggle.
• Imitated in the subsequent years by numerous revolutionaries and freedom fighters
Rani Lakshmibai is an epitome of courage and bravery and even to date more years after her heroic death Indians and the world at large still emulate her courage and heroism.
15. Sarojini Naidu – The Nightingale of India
Source: Google Images
Sarojini Naidu was the poet, the politician, the activist and the freedom fighter of India. If it were not for her efforts to change the social sculptures, literature, and politics, she has set up a remarkable influence on Indian culture .
Notable Contributions:
• First woman in India to achieve the President’s position of the Indian National Congress.
• Also engaged in Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement
• The world record of being the first woman Governor of an Indian state (United Provinces, now Uttar Pradesh).
• She was popular for her poems which were generally inspired by Indian genre and culture.
Telangana’s Kaloji Narayana Rao would remain etched in the annals of the country as a poet and freedom fighter cum politician.
16. Avani Chaturvedi
Source: Google Images
Flight Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi is one of the few successful women fighter pilots of India who crossed all the barriers which stopped women from joining the Indian Air Force.
Career Milestones
• The first woman pilot to enter the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force, one of the first three such women in the country in 2016.
• First Indian woman MiG-21 Bison Fighter Aircraft Pilot, solo flying done in 2018.
• He was involved in bilateral air exercise Garuda VI between Indian and French air forces
• Encouraging young women to choose the field of aviation and defence as their work niche
Chaturvedi’s accomplishments mark a fair improvement towards gender parity in the Indian Armed Forces.
17. Savitribai Phule – The Mother of Women Education
Source: Google Images
Savitribai Phule was a pioneer Indian women social reformer of the nineteenth century who gave a call for Basic education of women and girl child.
Key Contributions:
• Started the first school for girls in India in 1848
• Set up another type of home for pregnant women, which has been named as “Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha”.
• Firmly campaigned for the end of discrimination and inequitable treatment of people with raw dealings on caste and sex.
• She is, unjustly, labelled as the mother of Indian feminism due to her relentless work on women’s issues.
Though she had limited schooling herself; Phule’s strivings became the building blocks of women’s instruction and the social upliftment of India’s downtrodden.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the famous women personalities of India discussed here have not only excelled in their respective fields but have also become symbols of empowerment, resilience, and change. Their legacies continue to inspire and influence, reminding us of the transformative power of determination, courage, and vision.
These remarkable women, among many others, have played pivotal roles in shaping modern India. Their achievements span various fields – from politics and sports to science, literature, and social reform. Each of these women has broken barriers, challenged societal norms, and paved the way for future generations.
Their stories are not just tales of individual success, but also reflect the broader narrative of India’s progress in terms of women’s empowerment and gender equality. While significant challenges remain, the accomplishments of these women serve as beacons of inspiration, showing what is possible when talent and determination are combined with opportunity.
