On 26th July 2025, a significant chapter was written in the global narrative of grassroots leadership. Shruti Nagvanshi, a visionary social activist and human rights defender from Kashi (Varanasi), was awarded the prestigious “Excellence in Promoting Human Dignity and Social Leadership” at the Radio City Business Titans 2025 ceremony in Phuket, Thailand. This international recognition is not merely a personal milestone but a collective triumph for the marginalized communities she has served…
Presented by global icon Sophie Choudry, the award was conferred in the presence of India’s most prominent changemakers. The applause that echoed through the venue was not just for Shruti—it was for every woman, child, and community whose voices have risen through her commitment. Her journey—from the narrow lanes of Kashi to the global spotlight—embodies the essence of grassroots leadership: inclusive, ethical, and fearless.
As the Founder and Managing Trustee of JanMitra Nyas and Co-founder of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Shruti’s work spans over two decades of advancing human rights, dismantling caste-based discrimination, and empowering excluded communities across India. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that “development without dignity is delusion.” This core idea has inspired a wide range of initiatives—from health rights and education to constitutional literacy and politica…
In 2017, one of her most successful interventions, launched in collaboration with Child Rights and You (CRY), tackled maternal and neonatal mortality in 50 remote villages of Varanasi. The outcomes were not only measurable but deeply transformative: improved access to primary healthcare, increased awareness among mothers, and community-led monitoring systems. It was an example of what can happen when policy meets people with empathy.
Shruti’s leadership is not confined to reports and advocacy. She walks with the people. Her efforts to ensure Dalit women’s political participation, support adolescent girls, and mobilize local governance systems reflect a model of change that begins at the grassroots and rises upward.
Upon her return from Phuket, Kashi welcomed her like a daughter coming home in triumph. At the PVCHR office, colleagues and supporters gathered with drums, flower garlands, and emotional embraces. It wasn’t just a celebration of recognition—it was a celebration of resilience and justice.
Veteran politician Dilip Sonkar personally honored Shruti at her home and wrote on social media: “Heartiest congratulations to Shruti Nagvanshi for this international honor. May Baba Vishwanath and Maa Vindhyavasini continue to bless her path.”
Radio City Varanasi aired her interview, highlighting her thoughts on ethical leadership, community empowerment, and the urgent need to build systems that listen before they lead. Speaking with clarity, Shruti said:
“This award is not mine alone. It belongs to every woman who resisted in silence, every child who dreamed with courage, and every family that dared to hope.”
Beyond Indian borders, Shruti’s voice continues to grow louder. She has spoken at the G20 Interfaith Forum, engaged in global dialogues with PRIO and other peace-focused institutions, and regularly contributes to UN Women India and international networks advocating for gender equity and caste justice.
Her co-authored book with Dr. Archana Kaushik, Margins to Centre Stage: Empowering Dalits in India, remains a pivotal academic resource for understanding the interplay of caste, democracy, and development.
In 2024, Shruti was featured in the UN Women–Ford Foundation report titled “Hum: When Women Lead,” recognizing her as a transformational leader representing the power of purpose-driven change in the Global South.
Over the years, Shruti has received numerous honors, including the Karmaveer Gold Chakra (2024), Savitri Bai Phule Women Empowerment Award, the Public Peace Prize (2021), and her inclusion in the Top 100 Women Achievers of India by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2016.
What makes Shruti’s journey unique is her humility and her unwavering belief in ethical, grassroots-led transformation. She doesn’t seek to command but to collaborate. She builds alliances among civil society, governments, academia, and communities—not for institutional clout but for systemic change.
As India marches toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, Shruti Nagvanshi’s path offers a blueprint for participatory development, where no one is left behind, and where dignity is not an afterthought but a foundation.
Her recognition in Phuket is not just about one award—it is a universal reminder that when leadership flows from empathy and justice, it doesn’t need a stage—it becomes the stage.
“We must not measure success in awards, but in lives uplifted,” she often says. And indeed, thousands across rural India—once silenced—now speak, act, and dream, because Shruti believed in them.
From Kashi to the world, her life continues to illuminate the path for young changemakers, women leaders, and social entrepreneurs who believe that real power lies in service, not status. In honoring Shruti Nagvanshi, the world has recognized India’s conscience in action—humble, persistent, and revolutionary.
