Awards 2024

Khushabu Devi emerged winner at Aparajita ‘Kahaani’ 2024 (now ‘Aakar’). She leads the Pratigya Macchardani Utpadak Samooh, a group of SHG and non-SHG women from three villages in her block. Together, they manufacture mosquito nets, with 14-15 machines at a central location and others working from home. During the pandemic, they fulfilled mask orders, but have since returned to producing mosquito nets. Her group now generates an impressive annual revenue of around Rs. 10 lakh, empowering local women through sustainable livelihoods.

While women work in multitudes of tea estates, we see very few manage them – and that’s the ‘tea’ on Director of Operations at Ellenbarrie Tea Co. Ltd. as well as Karala Valley tea estates and the co-owner of Chaika Tea – the brilliant Aradhita Agarwal!

This true star is our 2024 Business & Entrepreneurship winner. A woman who believes in the power of breaking through stereotypes, who believes that to be Aparajita is to believe that you can do anything.

Building on this faith of Aradhita’s, we’re proud to announce that we’ve connected with a professional aiming to equip the female workers on her tea estates with the skill of financial literacy.

Katayun Saklat is the passionate stained glass painter behind Kolkata’s Fire Temple windows, and the winner of the 2024 Popular Award in the Visual Arts category!

She is the founder of Gallery Katayun. With a rich career exploring themes from dreamscapes to Zoroastrianism, she is dedicated to advancing education for deaf children, advocating for the Parsi community, and promoting young artists. As one of India’s most accomplished stained glass designers, her work is part of several public and private collections – as such, in supporting our nominees’ dreams in the 13th edition, we are compiling for Katayun a comprehensive memoir of her work!

Even the pandemic couldn’t stop this third-generation street food specialist, the winner of the Popular Award in Gourmet for 2024. She believes in self-sufficiency and hard work, passing on her skills to her 4 daughters, catering to prominent clients such as Rekha and Kapil Dev besides garnering extensive media coverage and the love of Kolkata’s community street food lovers!

The force from Siliguri fighting against human trafficking – founder of Kanchanjungha Uddhar Kendra, Rangu Souriya, won the Popular Award for Community Service & Advocacy in 2024!

She founded her NGO in 2004 with her own savings & small donations from well-wishers at a time when the closures of tea gardens were causing spikes in the trafficking of women & children. Her work has earned her numerous honours from both government and non-government organisations.

Under her aegis, The Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD) Jaipur has flourished, as has The India Story, a flagship project of the Neotia Arts Trust. In 2010, Madhu took home the Aparajita for Healthcare for making specialised healthcare accessible for women & children through the Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Centre, and later joined us as jury member & true steering force for Aparajita. She embodies every Aparajita that has graced our platform.

A recipient of honours like the Stree Shakti Award & the National Award for Young Woman Bioscientist, Smt. Anuradha has gained unparalleled experience as a visiting scientist in several countries. As a woman in STEM herself, she champions the adoption of STEM amongst women & is a passionate supporter of promoting classical dance forms.

So many tears shed, so many hearts full. Dolly Jain – a true “parampara ki parchai.”

Gracing the Sanmarg Aparajita stage not for the first time, but as Aparajita’s FIRST EVER undeclared Jury Awardee… And the surprises kept coming because Ruchika Gupta and the Sanmarg Aparajita team worked very hard to secretly bring Dolly’s daughter Aanya over from Bangalore. Her heartfelt words made it all worth it.

This one was an ode to the Calcutta girl in her. To the fighter in her. To the Aparajita in her.

His support has blessed Aparajita’s every edition! Our title sponsor. Under his guidance, Dhoot Group has grown into a pan-national conglomerate with interests as varied as real estate and aviation. His work to impactfully, empathetically & structurally improve healthcare & education for the underprivileged, combined with his soulful guidance as the driving force for Aparajita in her 13 editions – are both truly incomparable and deeply treasured.

Celebrated as ‘Young Icon of the Decade’, ‘Best Citizen of India’, ‘Face of 21st Century Architecture in India’, and featured in ‘Who’s Who of Asia,’ he is leading one of the world’s largest architecture and urban design firms. His philanthropic spirit as the ideator for CP Kukreja Foundation & work in advocating for sustainability are indispensable to Aparajita as a force for good.

She is a part of several educational, social, cultural, spiritual, and philanthropic associations. She is a big advocate for positive societal change, philanthrophy, and women’s rights. She actively champions the celebration of women, magnifying not only their triumphs but also shedding light on the formidable challenges they courageously confront. Her belief in ensuring every woman’s voice is heard, and stories are told is critical to Aparajita.

With 20+ years of experience in the luxury hospitality space, he is now the General Manager at JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata. His business acumen and leadership skills are hailed across the board and continue to inspire Aparajita’s eye for detail & sense of service.

As an alumna of the prestigious Harvard Business School with many achievements under her belt, she is a woman trailblazer in commerce & industry, also serving as an Independent Director of Greenply Industries Ltd. and is the Director of Continental Valves Ltd. A 2018 Aparajita honoree & the voice of women leaders across chambers of commerce, she supports Aparajita’s processes & functions throughout the year.

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In 2024, Aparajita announces a historic first for us – presenting Polar Preet, our first international awardee. Harpreet Kaur Chandi aka Polar Preet is especially flying in from the UK to accept the Strength Jury Award at Dhoot Group presents Sanmarg Aparajita 2024, powered by BMD Group and Bengal Energy Ltd. With two Guinness World Records to her name, she is a physiotherapist and British Army medical officer originally from Punjab, who is renowned for being the first woman of colour to embark on a solo expedition to Antarctica. After dedicating over two years to rigorous training, Preet carried 90kg of weight daily and braved harsh temperatures to achieve this feat. She is also the published author of a children’s book, “The Explorer’s Guide to Going Wild: Find Adventure Anywhere,” inspiring Indian-origin women and children everywhere to break the glass ceiling.

Like each year, the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Jury Award for the 13th edition at Dhoot Group presents Sanmarg Aparajita 2024, powered by BMD Group and Bengal Energy Ltd. goes to a trailblazer whose life has been testament to her strength. Prof. Somdatta Sinha is a pioneering researcher and professor of Biology, and one of the first scientists in India to explore theoretical biology. Her 50 years of dedication have significantly advanced scientific understanding, particularly in protein structure and biochemical pathways. Her renowned research paper, “Mathematical Models of Malaria: A Review,” published in 2011, has over 500 citations. Currently, she studies the epidemiology of infectious diseases and the evolution of HIV-1. Professor Sinha’s work has not only improved the medical field but also inspired the new generation to pursue science.

To be brave you have to stand for what you believe in no matter what, and nobody knows this better than Dr. Tawheeda Makhdoomi. She hails from Jammu and Kashmir, and her work in the region has been brave and bold. A devoted child rights expert and academician holding a PhD from the University of Jammu, her work focuses on personality differentials among socially advantaged and disadvantaged adolescents in Kashmir. She serves as a resource person for IGNOU and is a past chair of the Child Welfare Committee in Anantnag, J&K. She has also been teaching for 15 years. Further, she has extended her research to the mental health of socially disadvantaged half-widows and differently-abled persons in Kashmir. Dr. Tawheeda is a beacon of hope shining bright for at-risk persons in a vulnerable region. Dr. Makhdoomi is the recipient of the ‘Protector of Child Rights’ Jury Award at Dhoot Group presents Sanmarg Aparajita 2024, powered by BMD Group and Bengal Energy Ltd.

As one of the leaders of industry in specialty steel production & manufacturing, Bengal Energy has also pushed for sustainability & the education of the underprivileged during her tenure. She has been associated with Aparajita for 4 years now and has lent her expertise in management & critical insights through editions.

Aditi seamlessly merges home decor with e-commerce, driving branding, marketing, and new product development since the brand’s inception in 2019. Under her leadership, Nestasia now supports over 150 artisans in Kolkata.She champions the Nestasia ArtJET Program, empowering artisans’ children. The Designer Affiliate Program at Nestasia fosters collaborative growth in the design community. She has 5 offline retail stores, the first one being in Kolkata.

Aradhita, a trailblazer in the tea industry, defied societal norms to become the sole manager of the family tea estates. Her legacy of entrepreneurship transitioned her smoothly into estate management, challenging the male-dominated sphere with her expertise in cultivation, manufacturing, and sales. Under her leadership, Karala Valley has risen to prominence, ranking among Bengal’s top 20 estates and transforming it’s reputation for quality tea production. She is also the co-founder of Chaika instant tea.

Snehja, with over 8 years of experience, excels in strategizing and delivering bespoke marketing solutions for diverse industries and client portfolios. Under her leadership, Meraqi Digital is the fastest-growing agency in the city. She is also a certified Face Yoga Specialist and Health Coach. Snehja is an advocate for financial literacy and freedom in women and encourages those on her team for the same.

Her inner voice had always told her that she would be an artist. Raised in the hills amidst birdsong, she found inspiration in her surroundings from a young age. Now her love for nature and music shines through her art. She is dedicated to empowering women by teaching her crafts, initially from her home and now through her own art school and support for NGOs. Her mission is to foster a culture of growth and empowerment, encouraging women to pursue their passions and realize their dreams.

Shikha runs a ceramic studio in Burdwan, where she creates sculptures and crockery and also teaches the art. Her passion began in childhood and she specialized in Pottery and Ceramics at Banaras Hindi University (BHU). She wants to set up a production unit, to provide employment to women in rural and sub-urban areas and in turn support their families. She believes in sharing her knowledge to grow the art community and also provide avenues to others to become self reliant.

From her hands to the hearts of the likes of Rekha, Kapil Dev and the editors of Conde Nast Traveller – a third-generation puchkawali who fulfils out-of-station orders and supplies puchkas and puchka masala all over India, continuing her work even during the pandemic. She has educated her daughters just as much as her son and passed on her skills accrued over 45 years of working to her children, believing in self-sufficiency and hard work.

Katayun is the passionate stained glass painter behind Kolkata’s Fire Temple windows and founder of Gallery Katayun. With a rich career exploring themes from dreamscapes to Zoroastrianism. She is dedicated to advancing education for deaf children, advocating for the Parsi community, and promoting young artists. As one of India’s most accomplished stained glass designers, her work is part of several public and private collections.

Under her aegis, The Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD) Jaipur has flourished, as has The India Story, a flagship project of the Neotia Arts Trust. In 2010, Madhu took home the Aparajita for Healthcare for making specialised healthcare accessible for women & children through the Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Centre, and later joined us as jury member & true steering force for Aparajita. She embodies every Aparajita that has graced our platform.

Fascinated by cooking from a young age, Soma is a self-taught chef who learned from cookbooks and newspaper recipes. She began catering with her aunt Vishakha and learnt the trade. She now employs her three sisters. Thirty years ago, she introduced Asian and Mexican cuisine to Kolkata. She generously teaches cooking to her neighbors and women seeking employment, often for free. She also offers a unique service of cooking in clients’ homes.

Kanchanjungha Uddhar Kendra was founded in 2004 with Rangu’s savings and small donations from well-wishers at a time when the closures of tea gardens were causing spikes in the trafficking of women & children. She. Her work has earned her numerous honors from both government and non-government organizations. She is renowned for her tireless efforts in combating human trafficking.

Nakshi produces innovative and sustainable home décor, handloom and hand-crafted products, empowering rural artisans and supporting disabled individuals in the districts of West Bengal. Since its inception in 2012, Nilima personally looks into all administrative and functional aspects of Nakshi. She is also passionate about training the disabled artisans and supporting them with employment opportunities, through her dedicated endeavours.

A Buddhist practitioner, certified Montessori teacher, Heal Your Life coach, and counselor. She holds degrees from Lawrence School Sanawar, Sophia College for Women, and a Ph.D. in teaching from IEA. Her journey with Lotus Rescue began with three street children and has expanded to serving 1,000 children and 380 women in West Bengal through projects like ‘Shikhshayatan’ and ‘Nari Saksham’ whereas ‘Vishnupriya’ empowers 25 transgender individuals. She stays at Sunderbans every week to accomplish her vision personally.

Temit moved to Kolkata from Kalimpong in 1986. She specialises in cooking authentic Chinese food including momos. Crossing language barriers and with no education, she is an example of grit and passion. She is a keeper of the cultural food tradition specific to Calcutta – of women serving steaming hot breakfasts of authentic Chinese food at Tiretta Bazaar (Chinatown) on weekends. Temit lives all by herself and plays an active role in the community by running errands for the elderly in her neighborhood.