Women That Turned Compassion Into Revolution

Manavi Rai

Manavi Rai’s transition from a successful fashion designer and Model in Toronto to an animal rescuer and activist in India is a story of profound transformation. Held back in India during the 2020 pandemic lockdown, It hurt her to see starving street dogs who had nothing to eat once the restaurants closed down. This led her to sell all her assets to establish her NGO, Udgam, to feed, treat and shelter stray animals. She lives in a village close to Delhi and has adopted 8 villages and is trying to help and bring reforms in animal welfare.

Rajani Shetty

Rajani Shetty’s journey began over two decades ago in Mangaluru, driven by a simple refusal to look away from suffering. She has become a national symbol of bravery by risking her life several times to rescue animals, often through a fearless technique that involves tying a rope around her waist and descending into deep, abandoned wells to save trapped dogs and cats. Supported by her family, she prepares a daily meal of rice and chicken to feed approximately 700 stray animals. Despite receiving over 250 awards, including the Mangaluru Press Club Award, her focus remains on the ground, where she currently manages a home shelter for paralyzed animals and birds. Her dream is to build a 24x7 veterinary hospital in Mangaluru exclusively for stray animals and birds.

Bhargsetu Sharma

Bhargsetu Sharma was already a recognized hero before she became a full-time animal activist. At a young age, she risked her life to save a drowning man, earning the Governor's Medal and Raksha Mantri Prashasti for bravery. Today, at 27, her heroism manifests through rescuing animals in need, becoming the voice of the voiceless through her foundation, 'Humans with Humanity.' Based in Vadodara but operating with a national reach, her organization has grown into a massive volunteer network that has successfully rescued and treated over 5,000 animals.

Kirthana Raamsukaesh

After the passing of her beloved dog, Vetri, Kirthana founded Vetri’s Pet Food Bank under her NGO, Hope for Critters. This initiative is India’s first large-scale pet food bank, designed to support local feeders who have the heart to help but lack the financial means to provide quality meals. Every day, her team prepares between 530 to 550 kg of fresh, cooked food, which is then distributed to a network of over 50 registered feeders. By streamlining the cooking and logistics process, Kirthana ensures that nearly 5,000 animals across the city receive at least one nutritious meal a day, significantly reducing the starvation rate among Chennai’s stray population.