Manasi Pradhan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manasi Pradhan
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| Born | 4 October 1962 Banapur, Khordha district, Odisha, India
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | M. A. in Odia literature, LL.B. |
| Alma mater | Utkal University, G.M. Law College, Puri |
| Occupation | Women's rights activist, author and poet |
| Organization | Nirbhaya Vahini, OYSS Women, Nirbhaya Samaroh |
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Notable work
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Urmi-O-Uchchwas, Akasha Deepa, Swagatika |
| Movement | Honour for Women National Campaign |
| Awards | Stree Shakti Puraskar 2013 Outstanding Women Award 2011 |
Manasi Pradhan (born October 4, 1962) is an Indian activist who works for women's rights. She is also an author. She started the Honour for Women National Campaign. This is a movement across India to stop violence against women.
In 2014, the President of India gave her the Rani Lakshmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar award. She also won the 'Outstanding Women Award' in 2011. She shared this award with Mary Prema Pierick from the Missionaries of Charity.
Many international magazines and groups have written about Manasi Pradhan. In 2016, Bustle magazine in New York named her one of the 20 most inspiring feminist authors and activists. In 2017, Welker Media Inc. in Los Angeles called her one of the 12 most powerful feminist change-makers. In 2018, the Oxford Union at the University of Oxford invited her to speak.
She also founded groups like Nirbhaya Vahini, Nirbhaya Samaroh, and OYSS Women. She has worked on the Censor Board for films in India. She also served on the inquiry committee for the National Commission for Women.
Manasi Pradhan was born into a poor family in a small village in Odisha. At that time, it was not common for girls to go to school. She bravely fought against this idea. She walked 15 kilometers every day through hills and swamps to reach the only high school nearby. She became the first woman from her village to finish high school. Later, she was the first woman in her area to become a lawyer. Her life story has even been made into documentaries in the United States and Israel.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Manasi Pradhan was born into a poor family. Her village was called Ayatapur, in the Banapur area of Khordha district, Odisha. She was the oldest of three children. Her parents were Hemalata Pradhan and Godabarish Pradhan. Her father was a farmer, and her mother was a homemaker.
At that time, in many rural parts of Banapur, it was not accepted for girls to get an education. Girls were rarely allowed to attend high school. After Manasi finished middle school in her village, many people wanted her to stop studying. Also, there was no high school close by.
She walked 15 kilometers every day to get to the only high school in the whole region. She walked through hilly areas and swamps. Because of her hard work, she became the first woman from her village to pass the high school exam.
After finishing high school, her family moved to Puri so she could go to college. They had little money from their village farm, so it was hard to manage. Soon after she passed her intermediate exam, she had to work to support her family and her studies. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Government Women's College, Puri. She then got a Master of Arts degree in Odia literature from Utkal University. She also earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from G.M. Law College, Puri.
Career and Entrepreneurship
Manasi Pradhan worked for a short time in the finance department of the Government of Odisha. She also worked at Andhra Bank. But she left both jobs to follow her own dreams. In October 1983, when she was 21, she started her own printing business. She also started a literary journal. In just a few years, her business grew very fast. This made her one of the few successful women business owners of her time.
Activism for Women's Rights
In 1987, Manasi Pradhan founded OYSS Women. The first goal of this group was to help young women get higher education. It also aimed to help them become leaders in society. OYSS Women has organized many workshops. These workshops teach leadership skills, provide education, and offer vocational training. They also hold camps for legal awareness and self-defense. Through these programs, thousands of young women have become future leaders in their chosen fields.
Besides these activities, the organization does many other things. It is known for its important work in empowering women. The group also leads the Honour for Women National Campaign.
Honour for Women National Campaign
In November 2009, Manasi Pradhan started the Honour for Women National Campaign. This is a nationwide movement to stop violence against women in India. The movement has been very important in bringing the country together against violence towards women.
The movement uses many different ways to fight violence against women in India. It uses things like women's rights stalls and festivals. It also holds women's rights meetings and shares literature about women's rights. They use audio-visual displays and street plays to teach people. These activities help raise awareness about laws and systems that protect women from harm.
At the same time, the campaign puts pressure on the government. It does this by getting people to support its cause. It also campaigns for changes in laws and systems to reduce violence against women.
In 2013, after four years of discussions, the movement created a detailed plan. This plan outlined its fight to end violence against women. Many national seminars, workshops, and meetings were held. People from all over India took part in these discussions.
In 2014, the movement shared a Four-Point Charter of Demand. This charter was for all state governments in India. In the same year, it launched Nirbhaya Vahini. This group has over 10,000 volunteers across India. They work to gather public support and campaign for the four-point charter to be put into action.
Four-Point Charter of Demand
In 2014, the Honour for Women National Campaign, led by Manasi Pradhan, released a four-point list of demands. These demands were for all state governments in India. This charter is a very important part of the movement. It has led several state governments to make changes to their laws.
- Complete ban on liquor sales.
- Self-defense training for women as part of school lessons.
- Special protection police force for women's safety in every district.
- Fast-track courts and special investigation teams for crimes against women in every district.
Literary Works
Manasi Pradhan is a well-known author and poet. Her fourth book, Urmi-O-Uchchwas (ISBN: 81-87833-00-9), has been translated into eight major languages.
See also
In Spanish: Manasi Pradhan para niños
- List of peace activists
