The tale of Devi’s genesis dates back to 2021 when our team at BK Saraf conceived a noble endeavor – a homage to the real-life Devis during Sharad Navratri. As we glance around, the presence of remarkable women is undeniable, exemplifying qualities akin to the nine forms of Durga – courage and humility, fearlessness and compassion, wisdom and innocence. Their existence underscores the essence of these Goddesses, deserving our recognition and gratitude.
The inaugural Devi campaign featured the luminous Mrs. Malini Awasthi, a multilingual folk singer renowned for her contributions to Bhojpuri music. Recognized with the Padma Shri award by the Indian government in 2016, she personifies Devi through her fearless demeanor, artistic ingenuity, authenticity, and unwavering dedication.
In 2022, Devi 2.0 emerged, expanding its embrace to encompass a broader spectrum of awe-inspiring Devis, we self-nominated nine Devis from diverse domains, who are champions of tangible change in society. The success of Devi 2.0 was a culmination of the extraordinary Devis who graced the event and the nine exemplars we had the privilege to felicitate and celebrate.
In Devi 3.0, we took a step further by opening nominations to all, and we were honored to receive hundreds of them. After a thorough evaluation by our esteemed panel of Jury, we proudly selected 9 exceptional women; our ‘Devis’, representing various fields of work, and 2 Nanhi Devis, young, yet extraordinary budding child artists.
Our distinguished winners of Devi 3.0 awards are Ms. Vishakha Shukla for her contributions in the field of Social Work and Animal Welfare, Ms. Anubhuti Jain for her contributions as an Entrepreneur, Dr. Anju Goel for her contributions in the field of Healthcare and Medicine, Ms. Saba Jafri for her contributions in the field of Content Creation, Ms Suhani Gurnani for her contributions in the field of Fashion & Design, Ms. Poonam & Ms. Ishitta Ranjan Chowdhary for her contributions in the field of Makeup and Artistry, Padma Shree Awardee Dr. Veena Tandon for her contributions in the field of Academics & Education, Ms. Tulika Banerjee for her contributions in the field of Entertainment and Dr. Anita Singh for her contributions in the field of Art & Creativity. Our Nanhi Devis are Ms. Baani Chaawla, a 15 years old child artist with a disability (blindness) excelling as a singer, anchor, and an RJ, and Ms. Ginni Sehgal who is a highly accomplished Bharatnatyam Dancer at the tender age of 15.
We are committed to continuing this tradition of honoring the spirit of Devi in contemporary women year after year. Through this, we aim to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of women to society. Our goal is to illuminate their remarkable, inspiring journeys, and outstanding accomplishments, and continue to recognize these ‘Devis.’
