The Week That Was: Chess Prodigy Divya, Free Fare Scheme, Pramilatai Medhe & More

By: WE Staff | Sunday, 3 August 2025

From boardrooms to battlegrounds, stadiums to startups, Indian women are breaking barriers and redefining leadership across every industry and sphere. Whether it's historic appointments in politics and administration, landmark victories in sports, pioneering roles in science and tech, or entrepreneurial success stories, the empowerment of Indian women is no longer a movement; it's a nationwide transformation. Their achievements are not only reshaping societal norms but also inspiring generations to aim higher and dream bigger.

The WER Team has been closely following and celebrating these milestones throughout the week. Here’s a glimpse into the stories that are shaping India’s women-led future.

Free Bus Fare Schemes Set to Boost Female Commuter Across Kolkata

Almost half of women commuters in Kolkata (44.5 percent) and over half in Durgapur (62.5 percent) use buses for their daily commute, reveals a new study. It is indicated that de-fossilizing bus travel through fare subsidies has the potential to increase ridership dramatically—by 27.8 percent in Kolkata and 25 percent in Durgapur—demonstrating the revolutionary potential of bus fare subsidy programs in fostering inclusive mobility and economic development in West Bengal.

19-Year-Old Divya Deshmukh Stuns Koneru Humpy to Win FIDE Women's World Cup

In a historic and dramatic victory for Indian chess, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh captured the FIDE Women's World Cup crown, defeating India's highest-rated player and reigning World Rapid Champion, Koneru Humpy, in the rapid tiebreaks of the final match held in Batumi, Georgia.

News18's First Regional Event SheShakti 2025 Honoring Women Leaders held in Mumbai

MumbaiNews18 SheShakti, the leading Indian platform dedicated to recognizing and enabling women leaders and change makers, is set to launch its first regional edition in Mumbai on July 31, 2025. Organized in collaboration with Lions Clubs International, this edition established the scenario for the third season of Sheshakti.

NariMade offers Global Stage for Indian Women Artisans showcasing Handcrafted Creations

A new purpose-driven platform is making waves in the world of ethical fashion and homeware. NariMade, a women-led initiative, officially launched its debut collection on July 30, 2025, offering a global stage for women artisans across India to showcase their handcrafted creations. Founders Kritika Sethia Kandoi, Ayushi Kandoi, Anchal Tekriwal, and Divya Baid are building an ecosystem where women’s artistry is the centerpiece, not a footnote.

Former Pramukh Sanchalika of RSS, Pramilatai Medhe passes away at 97

Pramilatai Medhe, a prominent figure of India’s women-led nationalist movement and former Pramukh Sanchalika of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti (the women’s wing of the RSS), passed away at the age of 97 on July 31, 2025, in Nagpur. She had been residing at Devi Ahilya Mandir in Dhantoli since 1965 and had been critically ill for the past week. She breathed her last at 9:05 a.m.