Amity honors eminent “Women Achievers” during the conclusion of week-long celebrations of International Women’s Day

Noida: Commemorating week long International Women’s Day celebrations, Amity University organized “Amity Women Achiever’s Award Function” at University Campus, Sector-125, Noida wherein Padma Bhushan Guru Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan- Classical Dancer; Ms. Meera Khanna -Writer, Poet and Voluntary Social Activist; Ms. Archana Kapoor- Film Maker and Activist India Chapter, IAWRT; Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary-Professor, Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute University of Delhi Ms. Priyanka Dutt -Country Director, BBC Media Action India andMs. Bhawna Mehta- Director of Public Relations and Marketing – Indian Hotels co. Ltd. (TAJ HOTELS RESORTS & PALACES) and were felicitated for their unparalleled contribution to respective fields and their un-daunting, sterling spirit which has kept them moving strong in their lives.

Keeping in view, United Nation’s theme for International Women’s Day-2018- “Time is now: Rural and Urban activists Transforming Women’s Lives” and in accordance with Amity traditions, various women centric activities were organized by Amity Women Help Desk and by Institutions at Amity University during the week. All the activities aimed to highlight women related issues and to celebrate economic, political and social achievements of women, as part of the International Women’s Week-2018.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. B Shukla- Vice Chancellor, Amity University stated that every human being on the planet owes his/her existence to a mother, a female and a woman. She stressed that a woman is loving, caring, enterprising, affectionate, emotional, family centric, compassionate and at the same time, being ambitious and multi-faceted. She remarked that men and women complement and supplement each other and they are behind each other’s success, therefore, it is important for both men and women to be empowered for a happy and prosperous Nation.

Accepting the honor with grace and élan, Padma Bhushan Guru Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan inspired one and all in the gathering with the story of her life, narrating how learning dance and music by a female was not accepted well in society during her childhood days and how her father and husband supported her throughout in her pursuit of inner quest. She expressed her joy that today, the society has opened up and women are able to follow their dreams and passion in the field of their choice. She congratulated all the recipients of Amity Women Achiever’s Awards and commended them for their valuable contribution to the society

Accepting the honor bestowed upon her and thanking Amity University for the same, Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary-Professor, Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute University of Delhi outlined how she, as a Doctor overcome all the resistance, and pursued her ambition and passion to become a Medical Scientist, something which was not so common in earlier days. She remarked that as a doctor, she was always keen to pursue research and wanted to find out from where her patients were getting infections. She called upon all women present to believe in themselves and follow their dreams with passion and perseverance.

Giving acceptance speech, Ms. Meera Khanna -Writer, Poet and Voluntary Social Activist stressed that the opportunity, capacity and strength to change the society, rest within all of us. She remarked that being a woman and an empowered one is a real blessing since an empowered woman makes a happy family. She expressed that human rights are women rights and social activism is enabling everyone to be aware of their rights and access their entitlements, which is also the essence of democracy.

Thanking Amity University for the prestigious Award, Ms. Archana Kapoor- Film Maker and Activist India Chapter, IAWRT stated that women have all the power and they just have to realize the same. She expressed that some voices are suppressed and it is the responsibility of every human being to reach out to those suppressed voices and give them voice. She opined that it is the responsibility of every man to give opportunity to at least 5 women around him to speak out their mind and then only the society will start witnessing a positive change.

Ms. Bhawna Mehta- Director of Public Relations and Marketing – Indian Hotels co. Ltd. (TAJ HOTELS RESORTS & PALACES) thanked Amity University for acknowledging her efforts and applauded the commendable work done by Amity Women Help Desk. Sharing her views on women empowerment, she stated that women are very powerful and they have very challenging lives. She is an Artist, an entrepreneur, a social activist, a Devi as well as a Diva She stressed that the time to take action is now; women ought to be given their due in society for making India progressive in real sense.

Also present during the event were Dr. W Selvamurthy- President, Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation, Dr. Nirupama Prakash- Chairperson, Amity Women Help Desk along with other HoIs/ HoDs, faculty members of Amity University