Rajni Shah doesn’t chase headlines. She chases change.

Born and raised in Guwahati, Assam, Rajni’s path started at Handique Girls College, where she nurtured a love for music, writing, and the kind of creativity that makes people stop and listen. But it’s what she did after graduation that turned that creativity into impact.

The work she does
As Deputy Director of Inspiring Indian Women, Rajni helps connect and uplift women across borders. As Indian Ambassador for Kaushalya UK, she carries Assam’s stories of resilience to a global stage. Back home, she’s the person organizing donation drives for school supplies, distributing sanitary pads and medicines to kids who need them, and teaching tribal women to stitch their way to financial independence.

Why it matters
Rajni’s approach is practical, not performative. She looks at a classroom without books and fills it. She meets a woman without income and hands her a skill. No grand speeches — just consistent, hands-on action.

The recognition
The UK Parliament took notice with the Shelnspire Award. Closer to home, she’s received the International Women’s Day Award 2023 for Excellence in Education, the Super Woman Award, and the Pride of India Award. There’s also a Kakli Patwari Memorial Award for her powerful speaking — proof that she can move a room, not just a supply chain.

Rajni Shah’s story is a reminder that education isn’t only what happens in schools. Sometimes it’s a pad in a girl’s bag, a needle in a woman’s hand, and someone from Guwahati who refuses to look away.