Winner in the 5th Martha Farrell Awards

I have just been announced the winner in the ‘Most Promising Individual’ Category in the 5th Martha Farrell Awards, held last week in New Delhi. The awards are given out in memory of Martha Farrell, a well-known feminist activist who lost her life in an attack while working in Afghanistan. The selection was rigorous, from 66 applications from all over India. This was for our work at the intersections of caste, gender and mental justice as perhaps the only being done with the nomadic and de-notified tribes. We appreciate Martha Farrell Foundation for reaching and acknowledging grass root women leaders. As this year’s winners show, the awards have acknowledged nomadic tribe, bahujan, minority religious, LGBTIQ and other minority representatives. Being a feminist is not the same for all.. As a woman from a marginalized identity, the risks and threats are more severe. Our feminist work is invariably intersectional – also having to contend with other pillars of Patriarchy such as caste and religion. Also, carrying out intersectional, anti-caste, anti-fascist, anti-discrimination work does not remain just a fight but becomes a cause for social insecurity and even criminalization. Such work does not even translate to financial security. 

We salute all the winners for their relentless commitment to the cause, despite these challenges.