Honorees include astronaut Sunita Williams, actress Sharon Stone, Olympic athletes Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Raye, Nobel laureate Nadia Murad, and others, celebrating women who’ve shown remarkable resilience amid global conflicts and societal challenges
Published Dec 05, 2024 | 5:04 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 05, 2024 | 5:04 PM
Aruna Roy ( @midlandbook on X)
The BBC has unveiled its highly anticipated list of 100 inspiring and influential women for 2024, recognising trailblazers from diverse fields who have made a significant impact globally.
Among the honorees are astronaut Sunita Williams, rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, actress Sharon Stone, Olympic athletes Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Raye, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, visual artist Tracey Emin, climate activist Adenike Oladosu, and writer Cristina Rivera Garza.
The list highlights women who have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of immense challenges—from navigating deadly conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Sudan, to confronting societal polarisation following a wave of elections worldwide.
Three Indian women have been recognized in the BBC’s 2024 list of the 100 most inspiring and influential women worldwide. Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat, funerary rites innovator Pooja Sharma, and social activist Aruna Roy join 97 other global trailblazers
Aruna Roy, a prominent Indian social activist, has been included in this prestigious list as a recognition of her decades of tireless work for justice, transparency, and the rights of marginalized communities.
A lifelong campaigner for the poor, Roy’s inclusion reflects her unwavering commitment to uplifting the most vulnerable in society.
A former civil servant, Roy left her career to dedicate herself to grassroots activism, co-founding the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), a movement that focuses on transparency, fair wages, and citizens’ rights.
Her advocacy was instrumental in the passage of India’s landmark 2005 Right to Information Act, a law that empowers citizens to demand government accountability.
Aruna Roy’s inclusion in BBC’s 100 Inspiring Women list is a recognition of decades of relentless work for justice, transparency, and the rights of the marginalized. A moment to reflect on the power of collective struggle. #BBC100Women #RTI@bbc100women https://t.co/74lf406nGn pic.twitter.com/4dnJSpGGe6
— MKSS – Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (@mkssindia) December 5, 2024
Throughout her four-decade career, Roy has been at the forefront of people-led movements, earning numerous accolades, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Asia.”
She currently serves as president of the National Federation of Indian Women and has recently published her memoir, The Personal is Political.
Aruna Roy’s inclusion in the BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring Women list is a powerful reminder of the impact of collective struggle and the power of individuals to drive change.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
