Четыре женщины доказывают, что истинная свобода — это ответственность за других

Freedom, Reimagined This Independence Day, four women are proving that the most powerful expression of freedom is not celebration, but responsibility, writes Swati Sharma Freedom after prison Divya Reddy & Bobby Kandhari founders, HER RIGHT For the past seven years, Divya Reddy and Bobby Kandhari have worked with women prisoners, helping them rebuild confidence, dignity, and the possibility of a life beyond prison walls. Through HER RIGHT, they focus on rehabilitation, emotional support, and vocational training for women who are often forgotten long after their sentences begin. Divya says the journey began from a deeply personal place. “I was born into privilege, and yet I went through a lot of emotional and physical darkness in my life,” she says. “That was the moment I decided I wanted to help women who wanted to give themselves a second chance.” Bobby believes the harshest punishment often comes after release. “The stigma is real,” he says. “Most people hesitate to employ former women prisoners. Our mission is to equip them with vocational skills so they can become financially self-sufficient.” Together, they believe that independence is also about restoring self-worth and identity. Beyond the Birkin Sudha Reddy, director, Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd. (MEIL) The Met Gala gowns, Birkin bags, private jets, and diamonds may dominate the headlines, but Sudha Reddy says they reveal only a fraction of who she is. Behind the glamour, the entrepreneur and philanthropist has built a wide-ranging legacy of giving through the Sudha Reddy Foundation, with a focus on education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, adolescent development, and community welfare. For nearly two years, she has supported a daily annadanam initiative in Hyderabad that serves over 1,000 meals every afternoon. “This is not charity for me; it is responsibility,” she says. Through partnerships with UNICEF India, the Global Gift Foundation, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, she also supports initiatives in education, healthcare, nutrition, and women’s empowerment. Her foundation has also backed scholarships, medical support initiatives, and community development projects for underserved women and children. “I have witnessed the struggles of underprivileged communities across India. We all have something to give back to society and do our bit. Working for these causes is my mission. It drives me to do more for people.” Sudha has emerged as a strong voice for breast-cancer awareness through initiatives such as the Pink Power Run. As the first-ever Global Ambassador for the Miss World Organisation’s Beauty With a Purpose initiative, she champions education, healthcare, and social development across countries. “A girl child who is educated and healthy changes not just her own life, but the future of an entire family,” she says. Patriotism begins at home Rajashree Pinnamaneni, founder, Gandipet Welfare Society (GWS) For Rajashree Pinnamaneni, patriotism is not measured by a flag in hand, but by the way we care for the land beneath our feet. “We often realise the privilege of being citizens of a free country only when we interact with people living in countries where freedom is restricted,” she says. “But with this privilege comes an important responsibility, to preserve our nation’s precious resources.” Through Gandipet Welfare Society (GWS), she has made environmental stewardship a way of life. The Hyderabad-based organisation processes nearly 1,500 tonnes of municipal waste every month, conducts clean-up drives around the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs, and works to restore and protect fragile ecosystems. For Rajashree, protecting the environment also means preserving India’s water heritage. GWS has revived and continues to maintain historic stepwells, including the 300-year-old Bapughat stepwell (2020), Bansilalpet stepwell (2022–23), the 900-year-old Jaffer Bouli in Khammam (2025), and Nagakunda Stepwell in Sudi, Karnataka (2026). “We do not need to be monetarily privileged to protect our environment. All we need is intent and passion. Let us begin with waste management and water conservation and demonstrate our love for our country through meaningful action. True patriotism is caring for the country we call our home.”