Capital honours trailblazing achievements of its women

IT was an all-woman show without any pink bows. The 30th edition of the Devi Awards instituted by The New Indian Express Group, and the sixth in Delhi on December 23, was marked by nothing girly, no tears, no speeches, but the showcasing of solid and sustained body of work by women in the arts, economics, public service, and governance.

- PARAMITA GHOSH

Seventeen women leaders, Devis, came on stage during a dazzling evening that unfolded at ITC Maurya to be honoured by an award given by the Sunday Standard of the TNIE Group, in a city, that as Lakshmi Menon, CEO, TNIE Group, put it, was "no stranger to powerful women". The programme was moderated by senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai and began with the welcome address given by the CEO.

This was followed by the lighting of the lamp by the chief guest of the evening Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan, Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, TNIE, Group Editor Santwana Bhattacharya, and CEO, Lakshmi Menon. In his speech, Kerala governor raised the point about how "India's rise to pre-eminence in the modern era" is owed in no small part to the effort and "trailblazing achievements of its women".