Manasi Pradhan

Manasi Pradhan
Born October 4, 1962
Banapur, Khordha district, Odisha
Nationality Indian
Ethnicity Oriya
Education M. A. in Oriya literature, LL.B.
Alma mater Utkal University, G.M. Law College, Puri
Occupation Women's Rights Activist, Author
Organization Nirbhaya Vahini, OYSS Women
Notable work Urmi-O-Uchchwas, Akasha Deepa, Swagatika
Awards Stree Shakti Puraskar
2013
Outstanding Women Award
2011

Manasi Pradhan is an Indian women activist and author who received the Rani Lakshmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar in 2013.[1] Along with Sister Mary Prema, head of the Missionaries of Charity, she won the 'Outstanding Women Award' in 2011 from the United Nation's UN Women and National Commission for Women.[2]

She is the founder of Nirbhaya Vahini and OYSS Women,[3][4] and heads the Honour for Women National Campaign, a nationwide movement to end violence against women in India.[5][6][7] She is also serving on the panel of Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) for India.[8] She is a member of the International Governing Council of World Women Organization (WWO) and Inquiry Committee of the National Commission for Women.[2]

Early life and education

Pradhan was born to a poor family in the village of Ayatapur, in Khordha district, Odisha.[2] She was the eldest among two daughters and a son born to Hemalata Pradhan and Godabarish Pradhan. Her father was an agriculturist and mother a house wife.

She travelled 15 km daily to the only school in the entire region, to emerge as the first woman in her village to earn a law degree.[2]

After completing her schooling from Patitapaban High School in Gambharimunda, the family shifted to Puri for her college education. She earned a B.A. in Economics from Government Women’s College, Puri, and M.A. in Oriya literature from Utkal University. She obtained Bachelor of Laws from G.M. Law College, Puri.

President of India Pranab Mukherjee bestowing the 2013 Rani Lakshmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar on Manasi Pradhan at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on 8 March 2014.[9]

Literary works

Manasi Pradhan is an author and poet. Her fourth book ‘Urmi-O-Uchchwas’ has been translated into eight major languages.[10][8]

References

  1. ↑ "President Confers Stree Shakti Puruskar on International Women’s Day". Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Rani Laxmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar for Manasi Pradhan". 7 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Stree Shakti Puraskar" (Press release). Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Change in both men, women’s mindsets needed’". Daily Pioneer. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  5. ↑ Delhi gangrape victim continues to embolden Indian women | Matters India
  6. ↑ "At Chilika meet, rural women vow to fight against violence". Daily Pioneer (Dailypioneer.com). 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  7. ↑ "NCW for Judicial Probe into Woman Constable Assault". Outlook India (news.outlookindia.com). 20 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "I & B Ministry appoints Manasi Pradhan as Censor Board advisory member - Trade News". BollywoodTrade.com. 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  9. ↑ "laws alone cant come to women's rescue". The Hindu. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  10. ↑ Manasi Pradhan is advisory panel member of Censor Board | Indian Television Dot Com

External links