SHAKTI AWARDS TO CHANGEMAKERS: ROTARY CLUB OF BOMBAY RECOGNISES 12 POWERFUL WOMEN FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE
On Saturday, March 22nd, RCB celebrated 12 extraordinary women who are shaping the future in their respective fields.
This was the 3rd edition of Shakti Awards and it was held at the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai to honor women of substance across diverse sectors who exemplify courage, resilience, and impact. The 2025 ceremony celebrated 12 visionary women who have redefined excellence in fields ranging from business and medicine to arts, education, and sports.
• Art: Sujata Bajaj – Internationally acclaimed artist bridging Indian traditions with global aesthetics
• Author: Meghna Pant – Award winning storyteller advocating equality through fearless narratives
• Cinema & Television: Shefali Shah – Acclaimed actress bringing depth and power to every performance
• Education: Dr. Indu Shahani – Visionary educator transforming learning and leadership
• Entrepreneurship: Schauna Chauhan – Business trailblazer revolutionising Parle Agro’s legacy
• Fashion: Gopi Vaid – Celebrated designer merging traditional craftsmanship with modern elegance
• Medicine: Dr. Anaita Udwadia Hegde – Pioneering pediatric neurologist bringing care and hope to thousands
• Performing Arts, Dance & Culture: Birwa Qureshi – Artistic innovator reviving India’s heritage through art and danc
• Social Change: Chetna Gala Sinha – Founder of Mann Deshi Bank, empowering rural women towards financial independence
• Sports: Jemimah Rodrigues – Dynamic cricketer redefining resilience and excellence in Indian sports
• Theatre: Shernaz Patel – Acclaimed actress shaping the future of India’s theatre landscape
• Journalism & Media: Shereen Bhan – Journalist redefining business media and national discourse
Presided over by Dr. Swati Piramal, Vice Chairperson of the Piramal Group as the Chief Guest, the event brought together thought leaders and changemakers in a celebration of Shakti—the power that women wield to drive transformation across communities and industries. Shakti Award was conceptualised by RCB, and we believe that empowering voices and advancing equity is essential to building a more inclusive and forward-looking world. The awards are held in March, sams month when Women Internationl Day is celebrated to acknowledge the transformative impact women leaders have across industries and communities.
RCB believes that through these Awards, we not only publicly celebrate excellence but also inspire future generations to lead.
The Shakti Awards embody the spirit of honouring women who are not only leaders in their fields, but catalysts for transformation across society.
For RCB, standing alongside these changemakers is both a privilege and a reflection of our values, focused on creating a more inclusive and empowered future.
The emcees for the evening were Rtn. Anjani Rawat and Past First Lady Rangita Bhatnagar both of whom did a brilliant job of conducting the entire event very effortlessly and efficiently. Rtn. Ptn. Anita Almeida provided very impressive Voice Over introductions of every awardee.
President Satyan Israni opened the program with a heartfelt welcome message about empowering women as a continued commitment of RCB. After receiving the award from the Chief Guest & President Satyan, every awardee shared her journey in brief and expressed genuine impressions about the Shakti Award.
The proceedings of the evening were conducted seamlessly and very gracefully. PP Vineet Bhatnagar delivered a Vote of thanks and appreciated the support of all the Sponsors & Complimentary Gift Partners.
This year the Shakti Awards event was led by Rtn. Ptn. Rangita Bhatnagar. The core committee included Rhea Bhumgara, Farhat Jamal, Priyanka Jatia, Anand Dalal, Ushma Doshi, PP Vineet Bhatnagar & President Satyan Israni. Rtn Khurshed Poonawalla assisted with all the creatives for the awards function. The core team was very ably supported by Rtn. Priya Tanna, Amee Tanna, Nandini Sampat, Natasha Treasurywalla and a team of Rtn. Partners Kavita Dalal, Madhavi Sanghi, Malti Jain, Megha Kedia, Meghal Jhaveri, Miloni Sampat, Radhika Saraf, Yasmin Divecha. – PP Vineet Bhatnagar
