International Daughter’s Day 2025: 9 Daughters Of India Who Make Us Proud

International Daughter’s Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September every year. While some may celebrate the day on the 25th of September this year, countries like India celebrate the occasion on the 26th of September. The day aims to honor the daughters of the family and to celebrate their achievements. Every country celebrates the day in its own unique way. On this day, we cherish the fact that some of the most powerful and recognizable women in the world are daughters of India. They’ve traveled to different corners of the world to make everyone proud:

1. Shivangi Singh

Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh made headlines when it was announced that she would be the first female pilot to fly a multi-jet Rafale fighter aircraft. She decided to serve the Indian skies in the year 2017 and is one of Indian Air Force’s ten female fighter pilots. After joining IAF, Lieutenant Shivangi was stationed on an airbase in the northern state of Rajasthan.

2. Indra Nooyi

In the year 2015, Forbes ranked Indra Nooyi at No. 4 in its yearly survey of most influential women. She was the former CEO and Chairman of the second largest and most popular food and beverage company in the world, PepsiCo. Ranking on the list consecutively for many years, she’s made a name for herself with her “Performance with Purpose” and steadfast approach towards her work.

3. Tessy Thomas

Tessy Thomas became a household name when she was declared as the “missile woman of India.” She was the first female scientist to lead a missile project in the country. She was once the project director for the Agni-IV missile that was successfully tested in the year 2011. She is the Director-General of Aeronautical Systems at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

4. Seema Rao

Seema Rao is the first Indian woman to achieve the position of Commando Trainer. Not only is Seema trained in professional combat, but she is also qualified to be a medical doctor and possesses an MBA in the field of crisis management. Over 15,000 Indian soldiers have been trained in close-quarter combat with the help of Seema and her husband, Major Deepak Rao.

5. Mary Kom

You can’t say the words “Women’s boxing” without thinking of India’s very own champion sparrer, Mary Kom. The Manipuri born boxer became the first woman of Indian origin to win the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games and also at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Since making a name for herself, she has risen in the ranks to reach the no.1 position in the International Boxing Association (AIBA) world championship rankings for the category of flyweight. Mary Kom also participated in the London Olympics in the year 2012 and came in third, gaining a bronze medal to her name.

6. Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla became the first woman of Indian origin to reach space. She was an American citizen at the time and managed to perform numerous experiments that helped increase the knowledge of space during her time in space. She began her life in the tiny town of Karnal in Haryana and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College. After gaining her Bachelor’s degree she shifted to the United States to pursue her masters’ degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Unfortunately, Kalpana met an early demise when her space shuttle broke apart during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. She was forever known as an inspiration for numerous women pursuing a career in STEM.

7. Saalumarada Thimmakka

Saalumarada Thimmakka proves that age is no barrier for environmental activism. She is an environmentalist based in Karnataka and is known for her act of planting over 8000 banyan trees across the span of her lifetime. She revealed that her husband and she had decided to plant banyan trees after they found out they were unable to bear children. Her incredible acts caught the attention of media across the globe and she was ranked in BBC’s list of 100 most influential women in the year 2016.

8. Avani Chaturvedi

Avani Chaturvedi gained popularity after she became the first woman of Indian origin to fly a MiG 21 Bison. In June of the year 2016, Chaturvedi made a name for herself by becoming one of India’s first female fighter pilots. She was declared along with two of her women comrades, Mohana Singh Jitarwal and Bhawana Kanth.

9. K. K. Shailaja

K.K. Shailaja is the current Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Kerala. Earlier this year, the UN honored K.K Shailaja for her efforts to fight off the coronavirus from spreading in the State. She was commended by international organizations for her incredible critical thinking and crisis management skills. The politician began tracking the infection even before it first touched the Indian shores. She is one of the two women ministers in chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s cabinet.

India is a country where so many women are not allowed to receive the same education as their male counterparts even today. It should be our duty to ensure that we treat our sons and daughters the same so that they can achieve great heights. With the right encouragement, hard work, and support, a woman can achieve whatever she dreams of achieving. Which of the women on this list is your biggest role model? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Niharika NayakBA (Media & Communication)

 

Niharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing video games, and hanging out with stray animals.

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