Abhaya Bravery Awards Honour Champions of Women’s Safety and Social Change in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, March 6: Courage, compassion and commitment to social justice took centre stage in Bengaluru as the Abhaya Bravery Awards honoured individuals working tirelessly for women’s safety, dignity and empowerment. The awards were presented during a special programme organised to mark International Women’s Day, celebrating changemakers who have contributed significantly to the Rape-Free India movement and broader social welfare initiatives.
Held at Alliance Française de Bangalore, the ceremony recognised inspiring individuals whose actions reflect bravery, leadership and dedication to creating a safer and more equitable society.
Recognising Courage and Social Responsibility
The Abhaya Bravery Awards aim to celebrate individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage and commitment in promoting women’s safety, protecting the vulnerable and inspiring communities to stand against injustice. Organisers emphasised that recognising such contributions helps amplify powerful stories of resilience while motivating society to take collective responsibility for women’s rights and dignity.
The event served as a platform for sharing inspiring journeys of individuals who have dedicated themselves to social change, reinforcing the message that community participation and awareness are key to building a safer environment for women.
Dignitaries Extend Support to the Cause
The programme witnessed the presence of several prominent personalities who expressed solidarity with the awardees and the mission of empowering women.
Among those present were Karnataka Mahila Congress State President Sowmya Reddy, World Champion Bodybuilder (2025) Jyothsna Naidu, and retired KAS officer K. Mathai. Their presence was seen as a strong gesture of encouragement for the award recipients and for ongoing efforts to strengthen women’s safety initiatives.
Several other notable personalities including Brinda Adige, Dr. Girish Mood, Antony Sajeeth, Zafer Mohiuddin and Brijesh Gokhale also attended the event, extending their support and appreciation to the awardees.
Faces of Abhaya to Lead Key Social Initiatives
During the ceremony, three individuals were selected as “Faces of Abhaya”, who will represent Team Abhaya in upcoming social welfare activities and awareness campaigns.
They include:
-
Manika Sharma – Face of Abhaya for the Education Vertical
-
Janajit Thangjam – Face of Abhaya for the Sports Vertical
-
Sakshi Kamath – Face of Abhaya for the Animal Welfare Vertical
These representatives will work alongside the Abhaya team to promote initiatives related to education, sports and animal welfare as part of the organisation’s larger social mission.
For Media Updates: +91-93531 21474 [WhatsApp] | indianowme@gmail.com
Celebrating Everyday Heroes
The ceremony honoured several individuals for their extraordinary contributions to society and their role in supporting women’s empowerment. The awardees recognised this year include:
Manika Sharma, Janajit Thangjam, Sakshi Kamath, Subhas E. M., Veena Prakash, Dr. Munesha, Sarita Kumari, Pushpalatha, Vinod Kartavya, I. Sree Thanuja, Gopakumar, Ragini Sharma, Jithin Kumar, Papiya Kar, Bhuvaneswari, Karthik Mohan, Sangeeta Sinha and Kinjal Roy.
Each recipient was acknowledged for their unique contributions—from social service and community leadership to grassroots activism and empowerment initiatives.
Gratitude to Partners and Supporters
Debmalya Bhattacharyya, Director of the Abhaya Group, expressed gratitude to the partners and associates who supported the initiative.
He extended thanks to organisations including De-Design, Rawley Associate, ASG Travel India Private Limited and Newskarnataka.com, acknowledging their support in strengthening the impact of the Abhaya Bravery Awards and the Rape-Free India movement.
Special appreciation was also conveyed to Ayan Pramanick and Aslam Pasha for their continued encouragement and commitment to the initiative.
A Call for Year-Round Commitment
Highlighting the broader message of the event, Payel Sengupta, CEO of Abhaya Group, emphasised that the spirit of International Women’s Day should extend far beyond a single day.
“Women’s Day should not be a symbol of one day’s appreciation, but a promise of 365 days of equality and safety,” she said.
Her remarks underscored the need for sustained efforts from communities, institutions and policymakers to ensure women’s safety, dignity and equal opportunities throughout the year.
Building a Safer and Inclusive Society
Organisers noted that initiatives such as the Abhaya Bravery Awards aim to highlight individuals who lead social change through courage and compassion. By celebrating these changemakers, the initiative hopes to inspire more people to actively support campaigns that promote women’s rights, equality and community harmony.
As the ceremony concluded, participants reiterated their shared commitment to building a society where women can live with dignity, safety and equal opportunities—transforming courage into collective action and hope into lasting change.
