Most Respected Women in India: Icons of Influence and Legacy

Aug, 6 2025

Who gets the title of “the most respected woman in India”? It’s not an easy pick. India, a country with 1.4 billion people, has a long history of strong women who’ve changed minds, moved mountains, and influenced millions. Respect here isn’t just about power or politics or money—it’s about the impact left deep in the culture, the way someone makes ordinary folks stop and think, “She’s special.”

Ask a hundred people in Mumbai, Delhi, or Jaipur and you’ll hear a range of names—Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi, Lata Mangeshkar, Sarojini Naidu, Sudha Murty—the list goes on. But a fascinating thing happens: even with differences in age, region, or language, there’s a handful of names everyone recognizes and respects without debate. Why do some women reach such heights? How do they earn a permanent spot in people’s hearts and conversations? Let’s look for answers beyond just the fame, searching for those rare qualities that inspire a nation.

Defining "Respected": More Than Just Fame or Power

Respect in India isn’t just about headlines or titles. People look for something deeper—values, authenticity, and a kind of service to others. Someone like Indira Gandhi, the only female Prime Minister, isn’t just remembered for her political strength. Her legacy swings between admiration for her leadership and scrutiny of her Emergency rule. On the other hand, take Mother Teresa, who wasn’t born in India but became synonymous with kindness and care here. She’s honored not because she had authority, but because she was on the ground, lifting up society’s weakest when few would bother.

When Indians give respect, they look at how someone handles setbacks. Kiran Bedi, for example, the first female IPS officer, is still praised for standing her ground in a male-dominated field. The same goes for women like Kalpana Chawla, who became a symbol of ambition and tragedy when she lost her life in the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster. Folks remember her less for being the first Indian-origin woman in space, and more for her pure courage.

Even the arts aren’t left behind. Lata Mangeshkar, hailed as the "Nightingale of India," lent her voice to over 25,000 songs in twenty languages. Her presence built an emotional bridge across generations. That’s the kind of respect that lingers—one based on how someone shapes the nation’s soul, not just their career stats.

Here’s an interesting pattern: those who combine skill with humility seem to win the deepest admiration. That could mean Rani Lakshmibai, who fought during the 1857 rebellion, or Sudha Murty, who quietly boosts villages through education and social work. It’s not just big acts, but the little, constant ways they stand up for what’s right.

If you ever doubt this, just check out who gets honored on India’s currency, in children’s textbooks, or in government awards like the Bharat Ratna. Every year, these names come up for a reason.

Legends Who’ve Defined Indian Womanhood

Some women’s names shine so brightly that even kids recognize them in schoolyards. Rani Lakshmibai—the “Jhansi ki Rani”—fits the bill. She led an army into battle against the British, earning a reputation that still draws respect more than 150 years later. She wasn’t just a queen, but a symbol of fearless leadership. Her life story is classic textbook material, but it also pops up in daily conversation when people talk about courage.

If you ask middle-aged Indians about inspiration, you won’t escape the mention of Mother Teresa (or Saint Teresa of Kolkata). She devoted almost all her life to helping the poorest in Kolkata, working quietly, never aiming for the limelight. When she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, India didn’t just celebrate her as a foreigner who chose to serve—they felt she’d become truly Indian in spirit.

Sarojini Naidu, the "Nightingale of India" in poetry, wasn’t just a literary icon—she was also the first woman President of the Indian National Congress and first woman Governor of an Indian state. Balancing activism, politics, and art, she set an example for young girls to break into fields that once looked closed.

Modern legends? Check out Mary Kom, a world champion boxer from Manipur. She grew up in a poor family, trained without proper gear, and made her way to Olympic medals. Her story is shared not just as a sports triumph but a tale of refusing to accept limits. And don’t forget Kiran Bedi, who’s still admired for her blunt honesty and gutsy approach to policing when few women were in uniform.

Young generation looks up to folks like Sudha Murty for her practical wisdom. Her books and charity work reach deep into rural areas. She’s relatable, speaks plainly, and—best of all—walks the talk. It’s a huge feat to stay respected decades after entering public life, but Murty’s somehow managed to do that.

Names change as time moves on, but a few stay relevant across the decades—mainly because their accomplishments weren’t a one-time thing. Their influence echoes in festivals, national holidays, and even simple family stories. Next time someone says a woman’s place is in the home, India throws back stories of these icons and proves them wrong.

Modern Icons: New Faces Shaping India’s Future

Tune into a college fest or tech conference in 2025, and you’ll spot a new wave of women being celebrated. Greta Thunberg may steal headlines worldwide, but Indian names are front and center here—like Falguni Nayar, who went from working at Kotak Mahindra Bank to building Nykaa, the beauty and lifestyle e-commerce giant. Her IPO made her India’s richest self-made female billionaire, breaking records and stereotypes at once.

Gita Gopinath, who from Chennai rose to become the First Deputy Managing Director at the IMF, is another household name in economics circles. Her analysis affects global finance, and her interviews are watched by aspiring economists across the country. She bridges the world between tradition and change—always keeping India in her global vision.

The sports field? It’s no longer just about male cricket stars. P V Sindhu took the world by storm becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals in badminton—her work ethic is cited at coaching camps all over India. Kids write her name on their backpacks; she’s the face of new determination.

Bollywood too is seeing women like Deepika Padukone using their star power for good causes—mental health, for instance—creating a real shift in how these topics are discussed in middle-class families. Indian entrepreneurs like Richa Kar, who founded Zivame, have sparked conversations around women’s health and self-confidence, using business as a bridge to empowerment.

You can see the shift in social media too. Priyanka Chopra, who started as Miss World and later became a Hollywood actor and producer, often lands on ‘most influential’ lists globally—not just for her screen presence, but for how she redefines what Indian success looks like on a world stage.

The bottom line? Young women now have dozens of concrete examples showing they don’t have to follow the same old rules—everywhere from startups to sports, and politics to pop culture.

The Secret Ingredients of India’s Most Respected Women

Ever wonder what traits these women share? It’s not just luck, intelligence, or privilege. Look closer and you’ll spot a few things they almost always have in common.

• Resilience: Every name on this list bounced back from tough failures or tragedies. They rarely get an easy start. Rani Lakshmibai lost her kingdom but never lost her spirit. Sudha Murty got rejected for engineering jobs “meant for men,” so she started these opportunities herself.
• Service Before Self: The most respected woman in India—by nearly every poll—has usually done something that helps others at scale. Mother Teresa created homes for the dying. Kiran Bedi set up addiction recovery centers inside prisons. That public-first mindset earns lasting respect.
• Sticking to Principles: Whether it costs them votes, money, or popularity, these women hold their ground on issues of integrity. Medha Patkar fought for the rights of displaced people even when it meant opposing powerful groups.
• Inspiring the Young: Most icons who get universal respect end up in school books, exams, or at least family dinner conversations. Their stories are easy to relate to, and their journeys repeat in childhood dreams and ambitions.

Here’s something fun: If you actually run a poll—like the one done by the Times of India in 2023—the results will almost always include old favorites plus a couple of surprise new entries. In the digital age, respect and admiration can scale fast, but folks usually stick to names who embody values they wish to see more in the world.

If you’re looking for ways to build respect yourself, take a leaf out of these stories: get involved in causes bigger than your own interests, stick to your guns when it matters, never stop learning, and don’t fear going first. India’s most respected women never blend in—they stand out, and that’s why they get remembered for generations.

So, the big question—who is the most respected woman in India? There’s no single winner here. Depending on your age, background, and beliefs, your answer might change. But looking across time and across every region, the names that stick are those who took real action, faced storms with a smile, and used whatever power they had to help as many as possible. That’s how real, lasting respect gets built in this country—and it’s the best inspiration anyone could ask for.