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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Manasi Pradhan
|image = File:Manasi Pradhan.jpg
|caption =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1962|10|04}}
|birth_place = [[Banapur]], [[Khordha district]], [[Odisha]], India
| education = M. A. in [[Odia literature]], LL.B.
| alma_mater = [[Utkal University]], G.M. Law College, [[Puri]]
|occupation = Women's Rights Activist, Author and [[Poet]]
|organization = [[Nirbhaya Vahini]], [[OYSS Women]], [[Nirbhaya Samaroh]]
|movement = [[Honour for Women National Campaign]]
|nationality = [[India]]n
| notable_works = Urmi-O-Uchchwas, Akasha Deepa, Swagatika
| awards = {{Awd|[[Stree Shakti Puraskar]]|2013}}{{Awd|Outstanding Women Award|2011}}
}}

'''Manasi Pradhan''' (born 4 October 1962) is an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[women's rights]] activist and author. She is the founder of [[Honour for Women National Campaign]], a nationwide [[Social movement|movement]] to end violence against [[women]] in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=104539 | title=President Confers Stree Shakti Puruskar on International Women's Day | publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India | date= 8 March 2014| access-date=12 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/manasi-among-worlds-top-20-feminist-authors.html
| title=Manasi among World's top feminists |publisher= The Pioneer | date=24 November 2016 | access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.one.org/us/2017/02/09/these-womens-rights-activists-inspire-us-to-fight-for-equality/ | title=These women's rights activists inspire us to fight for equality |publisher= One.org, Washington, DC. | access-date=3 June 2017| date=2017-02-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.orissapost.com/epaper/080314/p2.htm | title= Manasi Pradhan wins Rani Laxmibai Puraskar | access-date= 13 July 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031553/http://www.orissapost.com/epaper/080314/p2.htm | archive-date= 4 March 2016 | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mattersindia.com/delhi-gangrape-victim-continues-to-embolden-indian-women/|title=Delhi gangrape victim continues to embolden Indian women - Matters India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313153101/http://mattersindia.com/delhi-gangrape-victim-continues-to-embolden-indian-women/|archive-date=13 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/at-chilika-meet-rural-women-vow-to-fight-against-violence.html |newspaper=Daily Pioneer |title=At Chilika meet, rural women vow to fight against violence |publisher=Dailypioneer.com |date=2013-04-26 |access-date=2013-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://vietnamnews.vn/opinion/op-ed/394636/world-needs-empowered-women-more-than-ever.html |title=World needs empowered women more than ever |newspaper=Vietnem News |author=Vu Thu Ha |date=29 September 2017 |access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref> In 2014, she was conferred with Rani Laskhmibai [[Stree Shakti Puraskar]] by the [[President of India]]. Along with [[Mary Prema Pierick]], global head of the [[Missionaries of Charity]], she won the 'Outstanding Women Award' in 2011.<ref name="Statesman">{{cite web | url=http://www.thestatesman.com/odisha/courage-rewarded-43178.html | title=Rani Laxmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar for Manasi Pradhan |publisher= Statesman | date=7 March 2014 | access-date=12 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://unwomen-asiapacific.org/mediaclippings/myFiles/Countries/India/2012/03-March/UN-Women-and-NCW-report2.pdf|title = NameBright - Coming Soon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://issuu.com/sulabhindia/docs/05-12_mar-2017_english | title=Women Reformers : Breaching Bastions |publisher= Sulabh International | date=5 March 2017 | access-date=3 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-gurgaon/20180308/282565903651023 |title=Giving Wings to Fly |newspaper=Hindustan Times |publisher=Hindustan Times Newspaper Ltd. |date=8 March 2018 |access-date=2018-03-15}}</ref>

Pradhan is frequently featured by international publications and organizations. In 2016, the New York-based ''[[Bustle (magazine)]]'' named her among 20 most inspiring Feminists Authors and Activists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/194950-20-feminist-authors-and-activists-who-will-inspire-you-to-get-out-there-and-fight|title=20 Feminist Authors And Activists Who Will Inspire You To Get Out There And Fight|first=E. Ce|last=Miller|publisher=Bustle magazine, BDG Media Inc., New York City | date=14 November 2016 | access-date = 30 December 2016}}</ref> In 2017, the [[Los Angeles]] based Welker Media Inc. named her among 12 most powerful feminist change makers.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://welkermedia.com/daily/women-power-feminist-changemaker | title= Women's Power : 12 Feminists Any Changemaker Should Know | first= Ekaterina | last= Ivashchenko | publisher= Welker Media Inc., Los Angeles | date= 6 July 2017 | access-date= 12 July 2017 | archive-date= 19 July 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170719124027/http://welkermedia.com/daily/women-power-feminist-changemaker | url-status= dead }}</ref> In 2018, the [[Oxford Union]] of [[University of Oxford]] invited her to address the union.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.shethepeople.tv/top-stories/manasi-pradhan-guest-speaker-oxford-union | title=Manasi Pradhan to be a Guest Speaker at Oxford Union |publisher= SheThePeople.TV | date= 11 April 2018 | access-date=2 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/odisha/activist-at-oxford-union/cid/1412151 | title=Activist at Oxford Union |publisher= The Telegraph | date= 10 April 2018 | access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.oxford-union.org/node/1716 | title=Manasi Pradhan |publisher= The Oxford Union, Oxford, United Kingdom | date= 6 June 2018 | access-date=2 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/manasi-invited-to-speak-at-oxford-union.html | title=Manasi Pradhan invited to speak at the Oxford Union |publisher= The Pioneer | date= 9 April 2018 | access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref>

She is the founder of [[Nirbhaya Vahini]], [[Nirbhaya Samaroh]] and [[OYSS Women]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://presidentofindia.nic.in/pdfs/pr080314.pdf | title=Stree Shakti Puraskar | access-date=13 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/change-in-both--men-womens-mindsets-needed.html | title=Change in both men, women's mindsets needed' | work=Daily Pioneer | date=21 April 2014 | access-date=13 March 2014}}</ref> She has served on the panel of [[Central Board of Film Certification]] (Censor Board) for [[India]]<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/trade-news/i-b-ministry-appoints-manasi-pradhan-as-censor-board-advisory-member/index.htm |title=I & B Ministry appoints Manasi Pradhan as Censor Board advisory member - Trade News |publisher=BollywoodTrade.com |date=2010-08-20 |access-date=2013-06-15 |archive-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313152512/http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/trade-news/i-b-ministry-appoints-manasi-pradhan-as-censor-board-advisory-member/index.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Inquiry Committee of the [[National Commission for Women]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/womens-panel-to-probe-odisha-teachers-murder-540800 |title=Women's Panel to probe teacher's murder|publisher=NDTV |date=12 November 2013 |access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Chilika-circuit-not-safe-for-women-says-NCW/articleshow/29764446.cms |title=Chilika circuit not safe for women, says NCW|publisher=Times of India |date=2 February 2014 |access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/world/serious-loopholes-in-women-security-28906.html/ |title=Serious loopholes in Women Security |date=8 December 2013 |access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=775785 |title=NCW for Judicial Probe into Woman Constable Assault |newspaper=Outlook India |publisher=news.outlookindia.com |date=20 September 2012 |access-date=2013-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108172301/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=775785 |archive-date=8 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Born to a poor family in a remote village of [[Odisha]], she fought successfully the widely prevalent social [[taboo]] against educating women, walked 15 km daily amidst hilly terrain and swamp to the only [[high school]] in the entire region to emerge as first woman [[matriculate]] of her village and subsequently the first woman law graduate of her region. The life story of Manasi Pradhan has been adopted as documentaries in [[United States]] and [[Israel]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.rapidleaks.com/featured/manasi-pradhan-unsung-hero/
| title=Manasi Pradhan : Meet One of India's Finest Unsung Women Heroes |first=Dev|last=Tyagi|publisher= Rapidleaks | access-date=12 February 2018| date=2017-11-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.orissapost.com/epaper/130318/p14.htm |title=Standing up for Women |newspaper=Orissa Post |publisher=Dharitri Newspaper Group |date=13 March 2018 |access-date=2018-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204642/http://www.orissapost.com/epaper/130318/p14.htm |archive-date=22 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://khouj.com/women/manasi-pradhan-get-women-wonder-award/ |title=Manasi Pradhan to get the Women of Wonder award |newspaper=Khouj.com |publisher=Khouj News |date=23 February 2018 |access-date=2018-02-27 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://marketplacehandworkofindia.wordpress.com/2018/02/10/women-role-models/ |title=Women Role Models |publisher=Handwork of India |date=10 February 2018 |access-date=2018-03-13}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Pradhan was born to a poor family in a remote village called Ayatapur in [[Banapur]] block of [[Khordha district]], [[Odisha]].<ref name="Statesman" /> She was the eldest among two daughters and a son born to Hemalata Pradhan and Godabarish Pradhan. Her father was a farmer and mother a house wife.<ref>{{cite web
| url= http://bharatduniya.com/2017/12/women-achiever-series-manasi-pradhan-worked-for-women-empowerment/
| title= महिला हिंसा के खिलाफ आवाज़ उठाती मानसी प्रधान
| publisher= Lok Bharat Media Network
| access-date= 3 Jan 2018
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192440/http://bharatduniya.com/2017/12/women-achiever-series-manasi-pradhan-worked-for-women-empowerment/
| archive-date= 4 January 2018
| url-status= dead
}}</ref>

[[Female education]] was considered a major [[taboo]] in most [[rural]] areas of [[Banapur]] then. Girls were rarely allowed to attend [[high school]]. After completing her [[middle school]] in the village, there was strong pressure to end her studies. Further, there was no [[high school]] in the nearby areas.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://fsfoundationindia.org/share-your-story-of-happiness/happiness-stories/happiness-story-manasi-pradhan/ | title= Story of Manasi Pradhan | publisher= First Stone Foundation | access-date= 3 June 2017 | archive-date= 18 August 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170818135457/http://fsfoundationindia.org/share-your-story-of-happiness/happiness-stories/happiness-story-manasi-pradhan/ | url-status= dead }}</ref>

She walked 15 km daily, amidst hilly terrain and [[swamp]], to the only [[high school]] in the entire region, to emerge as the first woman to pass high school examination in her village.<ref name="Statesman" /><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.janmanchtv.com/2017/06/06/manasi-pradhan-a-social-reformer-whose-discussion-is-not-only-in-india-but-also-in-the-world/ | title= Manasi Pradhan – The Social Reformer | publisher= JanManch TV | access-date= 12 July 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170616195828/http://www.janmanchtv.com/2017/06/06/manasi-pradhan-a-social-reformer-whose-discussion-is-not-only-in-india-but-also-in-the-world/ | archive-date= 16 June 2017 | url-status= dead }}</ref>

After completing her schooling from Patitapaban High School in Gambharimunda, the family shifted to [[Puri]] for her college [[education]]. With little earning from the village farmland, it became difficult to sustain. Soon after passing the intermediate examination, she had to work to support her family and her studies. She earned a B.A. in [[Economics]] from Government Women’s College, [[Puri]], and M.A. in [[Odia literature]] from [[Utkal University]]. She obtained [[Bachelor of Laws]] from G.M. Law College, [[Puri]].<ref name="orissapost.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.orissapost.com/epaper/080314/p2.htm|title=Manasi Pradhan wins Rani Laxmibai Puraskar|publisher=Orissa Post|access-date=13 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031553/http://www.orissapost.com/epaper/080314/p2.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.theypfoundation.org/news/2017/4/20/an-interview-with-manasi-pradhan | title= An interview with Manasi Pradhan | publisher= The YP Foundation | access-date= 21 June 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.notedlife.com/hi/Manasi-Pradhan-biography-in-hindi | title= Manasi Pradhan biography | publisher= www.notedlife.com | access-date= 13 July 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192616/https://www.notedlife.com/hi/Manasi-Pradhan-biography-in-hindi | archive-date= 4 January 2018 | url-status= dead }}</ref>
[[File:Manasi Pradhan Stree Shakti Puraskar.JPG|right|thumb|[[President of India]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]] bestowing the 2013 [[Rani Lakshmibai]] [[Stree Shakti Puraskar]] on Manasi Pradhan at [[Rashtrapati Bhawan]] in [[New Delhi]] on 8 March 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/laws-alone-cant-come-to-womens-rescue-pranab/article5764977.ece |title=laws alone cant come to women's rescue |journal=The Hindu |date=8 March 2013 |access-date=15 March 2014}}</ref>]]

==Career==
She worked with the [[finance]] department, Govt. of [[Odisha]] and [[Andhra Bank]] for a short period but left both to pursue her own passion. In October 1983, at the age of 21, she began her own [[printing]] business and a literary journal. In few years time, the [[business]] grew exponentially, putting her in the league of few successful women [[entrepreneur]]s of her time.<ref name="orissapost.com"/><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.womensdaycelebration.com/blog/5-most-inspiring-women-social-workers-around-the-world/ | title=5 Most Inspiring Women Social Workers around the World |publisher= Women’s Day | access-date=22 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dewaninstitutes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Women-Entrepreneur-contribution-to-Indian-Economy.pdf |title=Women Entrepreneur contribution to Indian Economy |publisher=DVS International Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Research, ISSN No.2454-7522, Issue: 08 Vol:02, No.4 April–June 2017 |access-date=15 March 2018 |archive-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204725/https://www.dewaninstitutes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Women-Entrepreneur-contribution-to-Indian-Economy.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Activism==

In 1987, she founded [[OYSS Women]]. The initial motive was to help girl [[student]]s achieve higher [[education]] and develop them as future [[leader]]s in the [[society]]. [[OYSS Women]] has been organizing [[leadership]] workshops, [[education]] and [[vocational]] training camps, [[legal awareness]] and [[self-defense]] camps, nurturing thousands of young women as prospective [[leader]]s in their chosen field.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/ncw-chief-inaugurates--womens-rights-stall-at-puri.html |title=Women's Rights Stall at Puri |newspaper=The Pioneer |date=4 July 2014 |access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>

Apart from the above, the organization undertakes numerous activities and events and is widely credited for pioneering contribution in empowering women. The organization is also spearheading the [[Honour for Women National Campaign]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/roadmap-drawn-for-rural-women-empowerment.html |title=Roadmap drawn for rural women empowerment |date=26 June 2013 |access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>

==Honour for Women National Campaign==
In November 2009, she launched the [[Honour for Women National Campaign]], a nationwide movement to end [[violence against women]] in [[India]]. The movement has been instrumental in galvanizing the nation against women atrocities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/print.php?printFOR=storydetail&story_url_key=three-strategies-to-curb-violence-against-women&section_url_key=state-editions|title=Three strategies to cut violence against women|publisher=The Pioneer | date= 13 April 2015 | access-date= 28 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url= https://thehinduimages.com/details-page.php?id=151551141#tabs1-html
| title= Manasi Pradhan
| work= The Hindu
| access-date= 12 February 2018
| archive-date= 9 January 2020
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200109174406/https://thehinduimages.com/details-page.php?id=151551141#tabs1-html
| url-status= dead
}}</ref>

The movement employs a multi-pronged [[strategy]] to fight the menace of [[violence against women]] in [[India]].

It uses a plethora of vehicles i.e. [[women’s rights]] stall, [[women’s rights]] festival, [[women’s rights]] meets, [[women’s rights]] literature, audio-visual displays, street plays etc. to raise awareness on [[legal]] and institutional provisions to fight atrocities on women.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/at-chilika-meet-rural-women-vow-to-fight-against-violence.html |title=Rural women vow to fight against violence|newspaper=The Pioneer |date=26 April 2013 |access-date=2015-03-14}}</ref>

On the other hand, it puts pressure on the state by mobilizing [[public opinion]] and sustained campaigning for [[institutional]] changes and correctional measures to contain [[violence against women]].<ref name="newindianexpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Three-pronged-Strategy-to-Curb-Crime-Against-Women/2015/04/12/article2760160.ece|title=Three-pronged Strategy to Curb Crime Against Women|publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref>

In 2013, after a four year long churning involving a series of national seminars, workshops and consultations involving stakeholders from across [[India]], the movement came up with a detailed draft charting its fight to end [[violence against women]].

In 2014, the movement released a Four-Point Charter of Demand for all [[state government]]s of [[India]]. In the same year, it launched [[Nirbhaya Vahini]], consisting of over 10,000 [[Volunteering|volunteer]]s spread across [[India]] to mobilize [[public opinion]] and engage in a sustained campaign for implementation of its four-point charter of demand.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/nirbhaya-vahini-to-fight-violence-against-women-in-odisha.html |title=Nirbhaya Vahini to fight violence against women |newspaper= The Pioneer |date=21 December 2013 |access-date=2015-03-14}}</ref>

==Four-Point Charter of Demand==
In 2014, the [[Honour for Women National Campaign]] headed by Manasi Pradhan released a four-point charter of demand for all [[state government]]s of [[India]]. The charter forms a [[cornerstone]] of the movement and has led several [[state government]]s to make suitable [[amendments]].

# Complete clamp down on [[liquor]] trade
# [[Self-defense]] training for women as part of educational [[curriculum]]
# Special protection force for women security in every [[district]]
# Fast-track court and special investigating & prosecuting wing for crime against women in every district.<ref name="newindianexpress.com"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theopenpage.co.in/Few%20Examples%20of%20the%20most%20courageous%20act%20done%20to%20bring%20the%20change%20in%20India.aspx |title=The Most Courageous Act done to bring Change in India |newspaper=The Open Page |date=5 March 2018 |access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref>

==Literary works==
Manasi Pradhan is an acclaimed [[author]] and [[poet]]. Her fourth book ''Urmi-O-Uchchwas'' ({{ISBN|81-87833-00-9}}) has been translated into eight major [[language]]s.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/aac/y2k10/aac512.php|title=Manasi Pradhan is advisory panel member of Censor Board|date=20 August 2010|publisher=IndianTelevision.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://idishoom.com/manasi-pradhan-odishas-daughter|title=Manasi Pradhan: Odisha's daughter|date=15 September 2016|access-date=22 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121634/http://idishoom.com/manasi-pradhan-odishas-daughter/|archive-date=29 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of peace activists]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.thestatesman.com/odisha/courage-rewarded-43178.html thestatesman.com]
* [http://presidentofindia.nic.in/pdfs/pr080314.pdf presidentofindia.nic.in]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031553/http://www.orissapost.com/epaper/080314/p2.htm orissapost.com]

{{Nari Shakti Puraskar}}
{{Feminism}}
{{Asia topic|Feminism in}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pradhan, Manasi}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Khordha district]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:Indian civil rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian women poets]]
[[Category:Indian feminists]]
[[Category:Indian women's rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian human rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:Social workers]]
[[Category:Activists from Odisha]]
[[Category:Odia-language writers]]
[[Category:Women writers from Odisha]]
[[Category:People from Odisha]]
[[Category:People from Puri district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Odisha]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Social workers from Odisha]]
[[Category:Women educators from Odisha]]
[[Category:Educators from Odisha]]
[[Category:Nari Shakti Puraskar winners]]
[[Category:Women civil rights activists]]

Manasi Pradhan - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 13:46, 14 August 2023