Sara Tendulkar has recently been appointed Director of the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation. This major development means a great deal in the sports and social sectors within India. The daughter of a cricketing great now carries on the fantastic legacy of excellence in her family while shaping the destiny of this nation through roles like this at the foundation. However, the greatest aspect of this news is the fact that this entire momentum is coming from a young woman in a field traditionally dominated by men. Like so many other changes, this underlines the burgeoning role of women at the frontlines of leadership in almost every field, making it a fundamental aspect of the future of India.
The upcoming era is evidently going to be the youth in general but especially for the women. The world is changing fast and the leadership of tomorrow will be in the hands of the young women of today. Their energy, innovative thinking, and commitment to social causes provide motivation to contribute meaningfully to society. They are breaking limitations with their education, technology, and awareness and proving that women are society leaders, not just participants in the society.
Sara Tendulkar in this regard also inspires – she shows that young women can occupy important places and yet manage to contribute to the nation’s growth. This leadership is redefining the future of not only varied industries but also cultures and societies across the nation. Healthcare, education, sports, business, and politics are all domains where increasingly many young women are becoming architects of change. Yes, the future of the country belongs to females, and it is not just about representation but empowerment in the truest sense.
It also moves on to opportunities such empowerment gives to women. The growing concern over women’s education, skill development, and health in India is plenty of fertile ground for the next leaders to sprout. Such initiatives have encouraged the establishment of programmes for girls to dream, open ways for girls to think beyond – Beti Bachao Beti Padhao; innumerable other NGOs; educational reforms- all these slowly but surely create pathways for getting girls to think about big dreams. Doctors and engineers are no longer limited to these roles and can aspire to become more than just scientists, entrepreneurs, or even political leaderships. The opportunity for women to lead and make a difference has never been broader.
The next wave of women leaders will come from a foundation very steeped in good education and well-versed in quality mentorship. These new graduates are learning more than the know-how to put to their feeble challenge to the new world norm but also of the capacities that boost them. For empowerment pushing forward, you need to develop confidence, resilience, and leadership. It is about equipping girls with the appropriate resources of today’s world so they can be self-reliant after facing any kind of obstacle or changing environment.
According to the National Sample Survey, only 14% of businesses in India are owned by women entrepreneurs, with most of these ventures being small-scale and self-funded. This figure highlights a significant gap when compared to global statistics, which indicate that around 126 million women worldwide own businesses, while India accounts for just 8 million—a surprising fact given its vast population. A report by StartupTalky sheds light on successful women entrepreneurs who have significantly contributed to India’s startup ecosystem. Interestingly, 58% of these women started their entrepreneurial journeys between the ages of 20 and 30. Approximately 73% generate an annual revenue of about Rs 10 lakhs, and 40% of them began their ventures solo. Meanwhile, 35% worked with co-founders, and around 40% employ no more than five people.
Despite facing numerous challenges in business ownership, most women entrepreneurs in India find the experience rewarding. A survey reveals that 74% of them are either somewhat or very happy with their entrepreneurial journey, while 17% expressed dissatisfaction, and 9% remained neutral. India has seen the rise of prominent female entrepreneurs such as Aditi Gupta, Anisha Singh, Shradha Sharma, Upasana Taku, and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, among others. Many women entrepreneurs are highly influential like, Radhika Merchant who is the assertion of the change women have brought into the entrepreneurial and cultural aspects in India. She is a graduate in Politics and Economics from New York University. Theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge of business have been mingled very well in her. However, Radhika is also known for her activities involved in the conservation of India’s thriving cultural heritage and a huge passion for Bharatnatyam as shown in her brilliant arangetram. Her life should inspire young women to follow their dreams while staying rooted, a reflection of the multiple prospects of modern Indian women entrepreneurs.
Ananya Birla is another shining example of young women leading the way in modern India. A successful entrepreneur, singer, and mental health advocate, Ananya has broken barriers in multiple domains. As the founder of Svatantra Microfin, she has empowered countless women in rural areas by providing them access to financial independence. Her work exemplifies how young women leaders can combine business acumen with social impact.
Young women leaders are the ushering in of new ideas sorely required in the world today. They are more likely to embrace diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability in their decision-making processes. They make an individual better because they are necessary to any country’s growth. A young female leader understands very well the importance of empathy and collaboration, thus making her a more effective communicator and problem solver.
Since time immemorial, women in India have spearheaded social change. From the suffragette movement to women-led initiatives around education and equality, Indian women demonstrated great fortitude and imagination. Exciting things will happen, as these legacies continue to build. With the increasing number of women in leadership positions, the challenges that the country faces will surely be dealt with creativity, determination, and empathy. They will not only economize but will also encourage social and environmental causes, making the society more balanced and inclusive.
India’s future role of women will also depend on how successful women will be in making it to the work sphere. Once that comes true, it will do wonders for the economy, women joining work and going to town. Such diverse perspectives and ideas women can bring in would inspire much innovation and creativity. For the next few decades, it is certain that younger women will be seen occupying positions in corporations, startups, and governments, hence building up an economy that is quite diverse and dynamic. Besides that, it would also empower younger generations to chase their dreams without any bounds since the vision of women emerging into leadership roles will tell the next thousand girls to dream big and believe that they can achieve it. In the future, truly equal society would involve joint effort by women and men to destroy patriarchal structures so that women would have equal access and support opportunities to succeed. When men and women work in unison, they create a more inclusive and prosperous society. Women’s future role in leadership will revolve around promoting a fairer society and address matters such as climate change, gender disparities, and access to basic resources.
Young women can very well lead India on the global stage. They have already made their presence felt around the world, be it in diplomacy, business, or the sciences. More women would, therefore, be found representing the nation with pride and building relations for peace, innovation, and progress in the future. Technology too is bringing empowerment to the lives of young women. With this new digital age of myriad opportunities, it is opening the doors of learning, collaborating, and even starting enterprises. Many women, especially in the rural parts, are getting into education, business, and connecting to the global marketplace through technology. The extent to which technology levels the playing field hardly needs reiteration; it constitutes one of the greatest forces propelling women’s empowerment. We see the future in the youth of India. Young girls, particularly, write the future at present when women break the barriers and rewrite the rules of leadership, demonstrating that the upcoming generation is quite prepared to grapple with the challenges of the future. There is no underestimation of women’s roles in the growth of the nation like India; they will bring about not only economic growth, but also a more compassionate, inclusive, and forward-thinking society.
Indeed, the future is female and now more than ever, women have a vital role to play in India’s overall growth and progress. Young women like Sara Tendulkar are proving that it’s possible to lead without a gender. It is very much clear that women will be at the forefront of crafting a new India-an empowered, equal, and innovative India. This is how the nation will thrive as these young women step into their power and lead the way for a bright tomorrow.
(Author is Professor and Chairman of Centre for Narendra Modi Studies (CNMS), Bharat. Email: [email protected])
