The prestigious Mahatma Awards 2025, widely regarded as one of India’s highest honours for social impact and leadership, celebrated a stellar line-up of achievers in New Delhi on October 1.
Among those felicitated was legendary classical dancer, activist, and actress Mallika Sarabhai, who has used the arts as a vehicle for social transformation. Through her Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, she has trained generations of artists while blending classical traditions with powerful contemporary themes on gender equality, human rights, and environmental consciousness. Her recognition also echoes the pioneering legacy of her father, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai — the Father of India’s Space Programme — who founded ISRO and institutions like IIM Ahmedabad, laying the foundations for India’s scientific and educational renaissance.
Equally celebrated was Dr. Yusuf K. Hamied, Chairman of Cipla Ltd., renowned globally for his crusade to make life-saving medicines affordable and accessible. Often called a “modern-day Robin Hood,” he spearheaded Cipla’s breakthrough in providing low-cost anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients in Africa, a move that saved millions of lives and transformed global health equity. His leadership has consistently balanced cutting-edge science with humanitarian purpose.
This year’s roll of honour spanned leaders from science, corporate India, grassroots development, and the arts. The awards, instituted by the Mahatma Foundation with support from the Aditya Birla Group, continue to recognise champions committed to sustainability, equality, and community upliftment.
In the Youth Achiever category, Shubhanshi Chakraborty stood out for her debut work Past Is Forward: A Journey Back to Heal the Future. The book urges readers, especially the youth, to look back at India’s cultural and ecological heritage to find solutions for today’s sustainability challenges. Drawing from tribal wisdom, mythology, and the principle of karma, she weaves a narrative that connects the environment, spirituality, and modern lifestyles — reminding readers that the past is not a burden but a guide to building a resilient future.
Shubhanshi’s work has taken her beyond India’s borders as well. In Geneva, she will engage with global youth forums and dialogues, contributing her perspective on sustainability and cultural wisdom to international discussions. Her recognition at the Mahatma Awards highlights how India’s younger generation is reinterpreting Gandhian ideals for a global stage.
