London: Indian para-athlete and current para-badminton world champion Manasi Joshi, climate activist Ridhima Pandey, 82-year-old Bilkis Bano who led a peaceful protest against the new citizenship law and Isaivani who broke male domination in the field of Tamil Nadu’s Gaana singing, are among the four Indian women to be included in the ‘BBC 100 Women 2020’ list released on Tuesday.
The list, which celebrates inspirational and influential women across the globe, from high profile names to unsung heroes.
“In a year of unprecedented turbulence, this year’s theme is ‘How Women Led Change in 2020’ and celebrates some of the scientists, public health experts, and healthcare workers who have helped us weather the storm of the global pandemic, as well as women from other industries who have all been leaders of change in their own way – from politicians, lawyers and architects to actors, writers, athletes, singers and those who have sought to improve the lives of others in their community,” The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported quoting BBC.
The list includes Sanna Marin, who leads Finland’s all-female coalition government; Michelle Yeoh, star of the new ‘Avatar’ and ‘Marvel’ films; and Sarah Gilbert, who heads the Oxford University research into a coronavirus vaccine and Jane Fonda, climate activist and actress.
“For the first time, this year’s list will see the 100th spot left blank to honour all the women who made an impact and a sacrifice in this extraordinary year and allow our audiences to fill it with someone meaningful to them,” the BBC was quoted as saying.
What the list notes about the Indian women
Manasi Joshi: In June 2020, the Badminton World Federation ranked Manasi Joshi as world number two in the SL3 singles. “She is also an engineer and a change-maker and aspires to drive a shift in how disability and para-sports are perceived in India.“
Ridhima Pandey: Filed a petition against the Government of India in response to its alleged inaction to mitigate climate change. In 2019, along with 15 other child petitioners, Ridhima filed a lawsuit against five countries at the United Nations.
Bilkis Bano: She became the face of a long-running protest in New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh.
Isaivani: She has spent years singing and performing in a male-dominated space. “To perform on the same stage as other popular male singers can be considered an achievement by itself. Isaivani has successfully broken an age-old tradition, which has led other young female gaana singers to come forward and express themselves.