Nari Shakti Award, India’s highest civilian honour for women, has been awarded to 105-year-old Bhageerathi Amma and 96-year-old Karthiyayini Amma from Kerala for their contribution to the empowerment of women.
President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Nari Shakti award on International Women’s day in Rashtrapathi Bhavan.
President Kovind presented the Nari Shakti Puraskar to Karthyayini Amma (98) from Alappuzha, Kerala. She appeared for writing the fourth standard equivalency course under Kerala Literacy Mission and bagged the first rank and scored 98% marks. #SheInspiresUs #WomensDay pic.twitter.com/v3FJJ4slcd
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 8, 2020
Bhageerathi Amma and Karthiyayini Amma had jointly won the award. Karthyayini Amma was only able to go to Delhi to collect the award, where she received a standing ovation from the audience. Bhageerathi Amma, however, couldn’t make it because of her health condition. It is a proud moment for Kerala. These two women had passed examinations conducted by the Kerala Literacy Mission with flying colours, proving that if you have the will to learn, age will never be a constraint.
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Kollam native Bhageerathi Amma is the oldest student in India to have passed the Level 4 equivalency exams, scoring a whopping 205 out of the total 275 marks. Bhageerathi is a mother of six and has 16 grandchildren. Karthiyayini Amma from Cheppad scored 98 out of 100, topping the literacy examination, AkshraLaksham, conducted by the Kerala Government. Kerala’s Education Minister C Raveendranath had gifted her a laptop for her achievement.
Both these women are proof of the fact that knowledge can be attained at any stage in life. They truly deserved the Nari Shakti award. Bhageerathi Amma and Karthiyayini Amma are an inspiration to many to pursue their dreams.
