Manasi Pradhan Biography 
Manasi Pradhan is an Indian women's rights activist and author from Odisha state of India. She is the founder of Honour for Women National Campaign, which fight against violence towards women. Nirbhaya Vahini, Nirbhaya Samaroh and OYSS Women are other women organizations founded by her. She is a recipient of numerous honours including Rani Laskhmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar and 'Outstanding Women Award' in 2011. One of the pioneers of the 21st century global feminist movement, she has also authored some books regarding this subject, and she is a poet too. In 2016, the New York based Bustle (magazine) named her among 20 most inspiring Feminists Authors and Activists.
Manasi was born in a remote village Banapur, Khordha district, Odisha in the year 1962. She belonged to a poor family. Her father was a farmer, and mother, a house wife. She has one younger brother and one younger sister. She was the first woman matriculate of her village and also the first woman law graduate of her region, where education was a taboo to girls then. She walked 15 kms to reach school. The family shifted to Puri for her college education, where she completed graduation, PG and also took LLB. Though she worked in government sector for a while, she gave up the job for social work and service for women.
In October 1983, at the age of 21, she began her own printing business and turned a successful woman entrepreneur. In 1987, she founded OYSS Women to promote education for girls. She launched the Honour for Women National Campaign in 2009 to end violence against women. Her inspiring story has been made into documentary films by foreign nations like United States and Israel. In 2017, the Los Angeles based Welker Media Inc. named her among 12 most powerful feminist change makers.
Published: July 23, 2018
Updated: July 23, 2018
