The world may or may not celebrate the remarkable achievements and journeys of women, marked by resilience, grace, and triumph. But The New Indian Express does.
With every challenge women face and overcome, they attain success and encourage others to embrace their identities while rising above societal norms and limitations.
In recognition of this unwavering spirit, The New Indian Express honours these women with the Devi Award 2026. As we begin the year on a celebratory note, the Devi Awards in Chennai will recognise women whose indomitable strength inspires perseverance and determination in others.
After all, every woman is a powerful example, offering one and all with a reason to persist, persevere, and believe in the boundless potential of humanity.
Darshan Shah’s journey is both deeply personal and profoundly impactful. She grew up in a progressive Kutchi family in Kolkata, stepped away from a corporate career after motherhood, rebuilt her life as a single parent, and eventually travelled the world in search of purpose. It was during a visit to Japan that she rediscovered indigo—an experience that reconnected her to her childhood and set her on the path to textiles.
In the early 1990s, Darshan founded Weavers Studio with a simple yet powerful mission: Use as many hands as possible. What began as a calling to preserve handlooms has since grown into one of Bengal’s most respected textile institutions—spanning arti-san livelihoods, handloom revival, textile research, global exhibitions, and cultural archives. Over three decades, her work has helped sustain and rei-magine Bengal’s textile traditions—khadi, jamdani, kantha, natural dyes—while creating meaningful employment for women and artisan communities. Today, Weavers Studio stands at the intersection of heritage and contemporary relevance, commerce and care, local knowledge and global dialogue
Dr Chaitali Das is a firm believer in sustainability which finds reflection in her endeavours of reviving jute. She is the Director of Rakshak Group and Founder of Rakshak Foundation which has stormed the global stage by popularising jute products, making this local skill well known on international platforms. Chaitali is a Fortune US State Department alumna and has represented India at the White House.
She is the Committee Member advisor to the Government of West Bengal for the reformation and rehabilitation of jail inmates after their release. An ardent advocate of sustainability and equal opportunity, she continues to show it through her globally-recognised work. She fought fiercely against cancer and is now medicine-free. This tough time gave birth to her coffee-table book Paatrani: Queen of Jute and a documentary film Jute Story Beyond Bars.
Baisakhi Ghosh’s love for flowers led her to found Baisakhi Flowers Pvt Ltd. Previously, she was involved with cultural performances and theatre groups, besides being a teacher. But all her experiences contributed to her seamless transition into becoming an entrepreneur with a boutique store. Her journey began with a collaboration with a luxury hotel, where her work was spotted by none other than the late industrialist Ratan Tata.
That marked the beginning of her illustrious career as a floral boutique owner, floral event designer and consultant. After completing formal training in Bangkok, she became one of the most sought-after names in floral designs. She also mentors others who now run their own floral endeavours. She caters to weddings, social events, home functions and corporate events and touches a special chord in every field with her impeccable designs.
Aloka Guha is a veteran advocate for disability rights with over 45 years of experience in special education, policy development, and human rights. She was a pivotal figure in advocating for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016. Her work has been instrumental in shaping the legal and social framework for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She frequently serves as a consultant for national and international disability projects based in Kolkata.
Her work is often highlighted through collaborations with institutions such as Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU) in Kolkata. She had a long professional tenure in Delhi as the Founder-Chairperson of the National Trust and her extensive work with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Her expertise has also taken her to Bangladesh, where she supported the government’s national initiatives on neurodevelopmental disorders. She continues to lead sensitisation programmes for government officials and medical professionals on early identification, intervention, and the 21 mandated types of disability in India.
Hailing from a small village, Saraswatipur, near Bekunthapur Forest, Sandhya has been an Indian national rugby player since 2017. Born to tea garden labourers at the Saraswatipur Tea Estate near Siliguri, Sandhya broke social barriers as girls in her community rarely participated in sports. She was introduced to rugby in 2013 through the Khelo Rugby project led by Future Hope. She has been recognised as one of the top 32 women players in Asia and has represented India at international levels, including preparations for the Asian Games 2023.
She continues to maintain a strong connection with her village while expanding her professional activities. She pursued a graduate degree in sports management at the George Group of Colleges and has worked as a physical education intern at the Future Hope School. She actively trains local children in rugby in her village through the Khelo Rugby project and aims at providing them with the same opportunities the sport gave her.
Having renowned thespians Rudraprasad Sengupta and Swatilekha Sengupta as parents, Sohini has been exposed to the world of theatre since childhood. As an actor and theatre director, she has been impressing audiences on stage with stellar performances in plays by the Nandikar theatre group and elsewhere. Her performances in plays such as Ajnatobaas, Madhabi, Naachni and Dulia have firmly established Sohini in the world of theatre as a competent actor.
She also acted in Aparna Sen’s film Paromitar Ekdin, which earned her Best Supporting Actress award at the National Film Awards in 2000. Her film Ichhe, directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, became a sleeper hit and Sohini’s performance as an overbearing and possessive mother trying to control her son’s life and career was much talked about. She has also been a part of such films as Alik Sukh, Belaseshe, Sanjh Baati, Aye Khuku Aye, Grihapravesh, among others and web series such as Abar Proloy, Adv Achintya Aich and Anusandhan.
Born in Baruipur, Tumpa Das took the reins of a profession that’s unusual for women to venture into and that too at such a young age. She started as a nursing professional and her job took her away from home. But after the demise of her father, a cremator by profession, she stepped in to take over his role to support her family, who were under financial duress. For Tumpa, work begins every day at 8 in the morning, and she single-handedly conducts the last rites, from start to finish. She credits her success to her family, who demonstrated strong support for her throughout
Dipanwita has produced works of fantasy and fairy tales to captivate her young readers, besides creating thrillers and detective stories for adolescents and adults. Her stories for the young children have been translated into English and various Indian languages and she has more than 50 titles to her credit. Some of her stories have been converted into radio plays as well. A Bengali political thriller, Korpur, will be directed by Arindam Sil, the story of which will be based on Dipanwita’s novel Antardhaner Nepothye.
An Executive Committee Member of the Shishu Kishore Academy of the West Bengal government for the past 14 years, she plays a key role in publishing the Academy’s bimonthly children’s magazine Chiro Sobuj Lekha and Kolkata Children’s Film Festival. She has worked in reputed print media and TV channels for over 25 years, retiring as a senior news producer at the television channel ABP Ananda.
An alumnus of Kerala Kalamandalam, Dr Guru Thankamani Kutty, is a household name among the art-loving people of Kolkata. Dr Kutty is the force behind the Kalamandalam Performing Arts and Research Centre at Golf Gardens, Kolkata, with multiple facilities for students, teachers and practitioners of all Indian Classical dance forms. Her Dance Training Institute, founded half a century ago, is one of the biggest classical dance institutes of its kind. She was also instrumental in opening six Bharatnatyam centres in collaboration with Mrittika Arts in the UK’s Sheffield, Huddersfield, Leicester, Birmingham, Coventry and London.
Dr Paula Sengupta is an artist-pedagogue, writer and curator. Currently a Professor and Head of the Department of Graphics-Printmaking at Rabindra Bharati University, Paula’s repertoire as an artist includes broadsheets, artist’s books, objects, installation, animation, and community art projects.
She works across mediums that include printmaking, textiles and embroidery, papermaking, drawing and moving image that address gender binaries, enforced migration, loss of home, heritage and environment, and a concern for conservation of societies, communities and ecologies. Her curatorial projects include PURVAI: Printmaking in Eastern India - Pedagogy to Practice for Emami Art; Living a Dark Night for The Kala Chaupal Trust, Gurgaon 2021-23; Ghare Baire at the Old Currency Building, Kolkata for DAG MODERN and the Archaeological Survey of India in 2019 and others.
Actress Koel Mallick, often hailed as the Tolly Queen by her fans, has a vast body of work in Bengali cinema and has been working in the Bengali film industry for over 23 years now. Daughter of renowned actor Ranjit Mallick, Koel debuted in Tollywood with Nater Guru in 2003. Since then, she has established herself as the box office queen with such superhit films as Bandhan, MLA Fatakeshto, Minister Fatakeshto, Yuddho, Premer Kahini, Mon Mane Na, Jackpot, Dui Prithibi, 100% Love, Paglu, Hemlock Society, among others. Later in 2019, she went on to star in the lead character in Mitin Mashi that became a huge hit.
This set a new benchmark in the industry that a mainstream commercial movie can be spearheaded by a female actor, thereby creating more such opportunities for other female Bengali actors too. Mitin Mashi’s success was followed by such experimental films as Rawkto Rawhoshyo, Bony and Highway. In 2025, too, her film, Sharthopor, where she played the lead, got appreciated at the box office, launching the career of filmmaker Annapurna Basu.A mother of two, Koel is married to Nispal Singh, who helms Surinder Films. Recently she got nominated as Rajya Sabha member by AITC.
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