Vinesh Phogat & 2 Other Indian Women Among BBC's 100 Most Inspiring Women 2024

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 21 January 2025

• Aruna Roy, Pooja Sharma & Vinesh Phogat feature on BBC’s Most Inspiring Women
• The list honors Women who Demonstrate Resilience
• Notable Women like Sunita Williams, Sneha Revanur, etc also featured

Aruna Roy, Vinesh Phogat, and Pooja Sharma are among the BBC's 100 Most Inspiring Women for 2024, renowned for their significant contributions to social activism, sports, and community service.

The BBC's 2024 100 Most Inspiring Women list honors women who demonstrate resilience and make significant contributions in various fields. The list, organized into five categories, includes Culture & Education, Climate Pioneers, Entertainment and Sport, Politics and Advocacy, Science, Health and Tech.

Notable women like NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, AI expert Sneha Revanur, Nobel Peace Laureate Nadia Murad, Hollywood actress Sharon Stone, and climate campaigner Adenike Oladosu also made up the list who have overcome significant challenges during their journey.

Aruna Roy

Aruna Roy is a renowned Indian social activist, professor, and former civil servant who is known for her work in rural communities and her role in the enactment of the Right to Information Act in 2005. She served as an Indian Administrative Service Officer from 1968 to 1975 before resigning to work with rural people in Rajasthan. She co-founded Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) in 1990, empowering rural workers and fighting for their rights. Aruna has received numerous awards and recognitions for her significant contributions to society.

Pooja Sharma

Pooja Sharma, a Delhi-based woman, has been performing the last rites for unclaimed dead bodies for three years. Her journey began after her brother's murder in 2022, which led her to realize the importance of a dignified farewell. Over the past two years, she has performed these rites for around 4,000 people across various religions and faiths. Pooja funds these activities using her grandfather's pension and has left her job as an HIV counselor to dedicate herself fully to this mission.

Vinesh Phogat

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, an Indian female wrestler has won numerous championships and Commonwealth titles. She became the first Indian female to reach the Olympic final in 2024 but was disqualified due to weight issues. Vinesh took a major step and retired from sports, later joined politics, and won the Haryana Assembly election. She has been vocal about sexist attitudes in sports and participated in protests against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.