International Women’s Conference Chairperson Bhanumathi Narasimhan shares a story of how the ‘Gift A Smile’ Project was born and how it is providing holistic and free education to 58,904 children.
Bengaluru: With women from 60 countries, including 250 delegates, 75 speakers, 100 rural women, 60 young women from over 30 colleges, the 8th edition of the International Women's Conference got off to a graceful start at the magnificent Vishalakshi Mantap at The Art of Living International Center.
Amidst the presence of over 500 powerful and courageous women, the conference saw addresses from prominent dignitaries including D Roopa, IGP, Karnataka; Arundhati Bhattacharya, Former Chairperson, State Bank of India; Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder-Chairperson Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation; Rani Mukerji, Indian Actress; and Dr. Jiko Luveni, first woman speaker in the Fijian Parliament.
In his address at the inaugural session of the conference, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of The Art of Living batted for women to lead religious and spiritual organizations.
“Spirituality transcends gender. Gender equality should be honored in all countries. The process will be faster and smoother if there are more women religious leaders to do it,” he said.
Women achievers from diverse fields viz. finance, politics, music, medicine, social service, arts, and entertainment were awarded the Vishalakshi Award for their impactful and noteworthy contribution for making a difference in their professional and personal spheres. The ceremony also recognized the role of men in empowering women, especially in rural areas, by felicitating them through the Acharya Ratnananda Award. These biennial awards have been instituted in the memory of service rendered by Gurudev’s parents to society. These awards celebrate not only the efforts of individuals but also the principles of human values that the awardees embody. The detailed list of awardees is given below.
“The possibility of something new arises in our life only when we step into the unknown, to explore a higher calling,” said Bhanumathi Narasimhan, Chairperson, International Women’s Conference.
Themed, ‘Life: A Mystical Journey,’ the 3-day conference is a congregation of accomplished women achievers, artists, policymakers and sportswomen among others, to explore ways to amplify the message of peace and empowerment, including spiritual tools.
Concurring with the theme of the conference, Rani Mukerji, the award-winning actor said, “My goal as an actor has changed. It's not about winning awards or setting the box office on fire. It's about telling stories with the potential to create change.”
The conference’s prime focus is to create open defecation-free districts in India. In its first phase, the organization has worked towards sensitizing and creating awareness about the use of toilets across 12 gram panchayats in 7 states. The second phase of the project aims to build 4,000 toilets.
Day 2 and Day 3 of the conference will keep up with more invigorating sessions and stories of exemplary women like Jiyan Merani, Founder, Ronahee Foundation, Kurdistan; Raseel Gujral Ansal, Lifestyle Designer; Dr. Vijitha M. Eyango, Founder and Executive Director of Women’s Leadership Initiative at UCLA; Arundhati Bhattacharya, Former Chairperson, State Bank of India; and Shaikha Al Shaiba, a para-triathlete.
Recipients of Vishalakshi Awards 2018
- Dr. Asha Naik, Medical Superintendent at Narayana Hrudayalaya Multi-Specialty Hospital
- Chetna Gala Sinha, Economist, Farmer, Activist, and Founder of Mann Deshi Bank & Mann Deshi Foundation
- Anupama Hoskere, Director of Dhaatu Puppet Theatre
- Shaikha Al Shaiba, Bahraini Para-triathlete
- Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Indian Classical Bharatanatyam Dancer, Scholar, Author, and Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri Awardee
- B Saroja Devi, Veteran Actress, and Padma Shri Awardee
- Anuradha Paudwal, Indian Playback Singer, and Padma Shri Awardee
- Sunita Gupta, Founder of Kadam Foundation, and Board Member of Kent RO Purifiers
- Sunita Suri, Executive Director of Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa
- Amla Ruia, Water Conservationist, and Founder of Aakar Charitable Trust
- Dr. Hema Hari and DK Hari, Founders of Bharath Gyan
- Suvina Shunglu, Administrator at Sri Sri Academy, Kolkata
- Deepa Dave, Senior Art of Living Faculty
- R Sundari, Renowned Sand Artist
- Arundhati Bhattacharya, Former Chairperson of State Bank of India
Recipients of Acharya Ratnananda
- Dr. PV Rao, Cardiac Surgeon at Narayana Hrudayalaya Multi-Specialty Hospital
- Sairam Iyer, Indian Dual Voice Singer
- Commander K Suresh, Indian Navy (Retd.), and Trustee of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir Trust
- Dr. Lingaraju Yale, National Director of The Art of Living’s River Rejuvenation Project
- Dr. Prabhakar Rao, Trustee of Sri Sri Institute of Agriculture Sciences and Technology
For more information, please visit www.artofliving.org/iwc
