New Delhi: The third Kamla Bhasin Award for Driving Gender Equality Across South Asia have been awarded to Lalitha Ranjani of Sri Lanka and Sunil Mohan of India. The Special Jury Awards have been conferred upon Jaya Chakma of Bangladesh and Nikhil Taneja from India.
The awards were presented on Saturday (30th November 2024) at New Delhi’s India Habitat Centre, in recognition of the exemplary work carried out by these individuals to challenge patriarchy, promote gender justice and inspire meaningful societal change.
Instituted in the memory of Kamla Bhasin, feminist icon, poet, author, educationist and a pioneer of the women’s rights movement in South Asia, the awards are given under two categories, which include a citation in the form of a trophy and a cheque of Rs 1,00,000 each. The awards are jointly given by Azad Foundation, iPartner India and National Foundation for India (NFI) since 2022. The Special Jury Award consists of a citation in the form of a trophy.
While Jaya and Lalitha won the award in the first category – a woman (cis/trans) practicing Non-Traditional Livelihood, Sunil and Nikhil have been awarded under the second category – a man (cis/trans), working towards enabling a gender-just ecosystem.
This year awardees were selected by a six-member jury chaired by Sri Lankan diplomat and human rights advocate Radhika Coomaraswamy. Other jury members included Anu Aga (India), Khushi Kabir (Bangladesh), Binda Pandey (Nepal), Munizae Jahangir (Pakistan) and Namita Bhandare (India).
Ranjani is a trailblazing trade union activist from Sri Lanka who has spent decades organising and empowering women in the garment sector. As the founder and chief organiser of the Textile Garment and Clothing Workers Union (TGCWU), the first women-led trade union in Sri Lanka, she has established a strong presence for women’s leadership in industrial zones, building a membership of over 1,500 workers.
“I have worked for 30 years now, and winning this award has given me the courage to continue with my trade union work,” said Ranjani. “So far, I have faced challenges successfully with the strength of my family and a group of strong-willed women around me,” she added. “My goal is to ensure that all workers in the FTZs [free trade zones] enjoy the rights and entitlements enshrined in the constitution. I strive to form women’s trade unions at many worksites and establish a federation of unions affiliated with the textile and clothing worker unions in the future,” she said.
Mohan, a trans man and former captain of the Kerala women’s cricket team, has dedicated over 20 years to advocating for gender equity and trans rights in India. Based in Bangalore, he has transformed lives through legal advocacy, crisis intervention, and community-based initiatives, impacting over 3,000 individuals.
“I don’t want others to face the struggles I’ve faced because of my identity. This is why I began working on these issues. I’m so happy to receive this award. After more than 20 years of work, for the first time, I feel that someone has acknowledged my efforts, someone has truly valued my work,” said Mohan while receiving the award.
Jaya Chakma, Bangladesh’s first and only FIFA-accredited female football referee and coach, is a pioneer for women in sports. Coming from the minority Chakma tribe, Jaya has shattered societal barriers to create opportunities for women in football. As a coach at the Bangladesh Krira Shikha Protishthan (BKSP), she has led her teams to multiple victories and continues to inspire young girls, especially those from minority communities, to break into male-dominated fields.
“The main challenge I face even today is the tendency of people not accepting me,” said Chakma. “As a football coach and referee, I can teach both men and women. Being a woman referee doesn’t stop me from showing a red card in a men’s tournament,” she added. “Receiving the Kamla Bhasin Award feels like earning a degree. And what do people do after receiving a degree? They serve others. This award inspires me and has increased my responsibility to serve people,” she concluded
Nikhil Taneja, a Mumbai-based public speaker, writer, and the CEO of Yuvaa, has been a relentless advocate for mental health and gender sensitivity among Indian youth. Through his video chat show “Be A Man, Yaar”, and his extensive campus outreach across over 100 institutions, Nikhil challenges toxic masculinity and fosters a culture of positive masculinity.
“I have immense respect for Kamla Bhasin. She made significant contributions to the feminist movement in India and being associated with an award in her name is both an honour and a responsibility,” said Nikhil. “It is my duty to carry forward this work with other activists so that the next generation of youth can grow up in safe spaces where they do not feel lonely,” he pledged.
The award ceremony was followed by a performance from Padma Bhushan Usha Uthup. At the end of ceremony, organisers announced that to ensure South Asian nature of the awards, the ceremony will take place in Nepal next year and will be hosted by TEWA, Kathmandu.
