Celebrating 15 trailblazing voices who championed human rights, and redefined culture and inclusivity in 2024, inspiring a collective vision for justice, equity, and transformative change. The #Newsdesk reports…

The Daily Eye proudly honours 15 exceptional individuals as the Voices of Courage and Change 2024. From Priyanka Gandhi to Mohammad Zubair, these trailblazers span activism, cinema, journalism, and human rights, breaking barriers and advocating for gender equality, inclusivity, and justice. Highlighting transformative contributions across diverse fields, this annual recognition amplifies stories of innovation, and societal impact, ensuring that bold efforts to challenge oppressive systems inspire a brighter, equitable future for all. 

The Daily Eye, as a democratic and liberal forum, takes pride in curating an annual list of 15 individuals who have profoundly impacted society and culture. This initiative goes beyond the boundaries of popularity, focusing instead on the enduring significance of their work, their fearless pursuit of truth, and their unwavering commitment to human rights, diversity, and inclusion. In an era where mainstream media often succumbs to the pressures of corporate and political funding, sidelining important narratives, The Daily Eye stands firm in amplifying voices that challenge the status quo.

Our selection process prioritizes integrity and societal contribution, ensuring that each individual’s work resonates with transformative potential. From activists and artists to journalists and change-makers, the year 2024 honourees embody the ethos of inspiring a better future. Their stories not only celebrate individual achievements but also reflect collective struggles and triumphs that shape our world.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stormed into the Lok Sabha from Wayanad, Kerala, in November 2024. A member of the Indian National Congress, she is also serving as a general secretary of the All India Congress Committee. A political leader who has consistently advocated for grassroots empowerment, Priyanka Gandhi has redefined public engagement through her inclusive policies and direct connection with marginalized communities. Her work within the Congress Party reflects a commitment to uplift women, farmers, and labourers, often at odds with the prevailing political climate. Gandhi’s fearless stance on issues like women’s safety, education, and farmers’ rights has earned her respect across ideological divides. 

Diljit Dosanjh

 

An icon in Punjabi music and cinema, Diljit Dosanjh transcends entertainment, becoming a voice for farmers and the working class. His open support for the Indian farmers' protests against contentious agricultural laws showcased his fearlessness in speaking truth to power. Through his artistry and activism, Dosanjh bridges cultural divides and uplifts Punjabi identity on a global scale. Among the most popular forces of the Indian entertainment universe, while the entire industry remained silent after the former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s demise for fear of backlash from the establishment, it was Dosanjh who paid tributes to the late leader without fear on a public stage.

Bela Bhatia

Bela Bhatia, a renowned human rights defender and author of India’s Forgotten Country: A View From the Margins, has dedicated her life to advocating for marginalized communities across India. Known for her fearless work in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, Bela has exposed atrocities and empowered tribal women to seek justice, often at personal risk. Her contributions to global and local human rights issues, combined with her powerful storytelling, have made her a guidepost of hope.

Pratibha Sumann Sharma

A literary voice of dissent and empowerment, Pratibha Sumann’s writings dive deep into the intersection of gender, caste, and class. Her evocative poetry and essays, especially in her latest book Urban Naxal Biwi, amplify the voices of underrepresented communities, making her a flagbearer of resistance against entrenched societal inequities.

Shoma A. Chatterji

Dr. Shoma A. Chatterjee is an Indian film scholar, author, and freelance journalist. She has been the recipient of National Film Award for Best Film Critic in 1991, and the National Award for Best Writing in Cinema for her study of the works of Aparna Sen in the publication Parama and Other Outsiders: The Cinema of Aparna Sen (2002). She is the author of several biographies, including those on Pramathesh Barua, Ritwik Ghatak, and Suchitra Sen. Through the Lens, Brightly: Women in Cinema, Women at Work unearths how the ‘working woman’ has been presented in films directed by women. The volume attempts to locate whether these celluloid representations depict the empowerment of women because of their financial independence or if these women remain where they began despite their professional triumphs.

Payal Kapadia

The strength of All We Imagine as Light, which earned the filmmaker a Best Director nomination at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, lies in its refusal to be just one thing, like a poem whose meaning shifts with each read (source: The Interview). Despite becoming the first Indian movie to compete at the Cannes Film Festival in over thirty years, the Film Federation of India declined to submit her movie for Best International Feature Film at this year’s Academy Awards. Their reasoning? They told Kapadia the film wasn’t “Indian enough.” An internationally acclaimed filmmaker, Payal Kapadia’s works, including A Night of Knowing Nothing, blur the boundaries between documentary and fiction.

Kiran Rao

A filmmaker and producer, Kiran Rao’s contributions to Indian cinema emphasize authenticity and experimental storytelling. Her work fosters independent cinema, paving the way for diverse voices and narratives in a commercially dominated industry. She scripted and directed the film Dhobi Ghat, which was released in January 2011 under Aamir Khan Productions. Kiran Rao was made the chairperson of the Mumbai Film Festival - MAMI in 2015. In 2024, her film Laapataa Ladies was selected as the Indian entry for the Best International Feature Film for the 97th Academy Awards.

Richa Chadha

A fearless actor and activist, Richa Chadha’s choice of roles challenges stereotypes and highlights social issues, from gender inequality to caste discrimination. Off-screen, her outspoken stance on pressing societal concerns makes her a powerful voice for change. Girls Will Be Girls, a film produced by her and her husband, won accolades in 2024 for its authenticity of storytelling. In a film industry trapped in stereotyping and formula, Richa has delivered a product with a long-lasting and profound impact on audiences.

Ali Fazal

An internationally recognized actor, Ali Fazal uses his platform to advocate for inclusivity in cinema. His roles challenge conventional norms, and his work in global cinema bridges cultural divides. Girls Will Be Girls, the film he’s co-produced with his wife Richa Chadha, is a 2024 Indian coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Shuchi Talati. An Indian and French co-production, the film is Talati's feature directorial debut. It premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, participating in the competition section of the festival.

Anusuya Sengupta

As a poet, activist, and co-founder of Whose Knowledge?, Anusuya Sengupta’s efforts aim to decolonize the internet by amplifying marginalized perspectives. Anasuya Sengupta is making headlines for becoming the first Indian actor to win the Best Actress at Cannes for the film The Shameless. Sengupta made history as the first Indian actress to receive this honour, and her performance as Renuka—a woman navigating the complexities of survival, love, and guilt—has been widely acclaimed.

Vinesh Phogat

An Olympian wrestler, Vinesh Phogat’s journey exemplifies perseverance against systemic barriers. From the wrestling mat to the streets, Vinesh Phogat’s struggle highlights the ongoing battle against systemic injustice and gender inequality, shining a light on the resilience of women worldwide. She won the 2024 assembly election from Julana constituency representing the Indian National Congress. Previously, as a wrestler, she was a multiple-gold medallist of Commonwealth Games, with her wins in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Kavita Srivastava

Kavita Srivastava is a full-time human rights activist working to protect people’s democratic and constitutional rights and to work towards justice in instances of violations of people’s rights in her organization PUCL. Kavita took the “Right to Food” issue to the Supreme Court. This became the most significant food litigation in democratic India. The court has passed significant decrees relating to deaths from hunger, children’s nutrition, social security for the vulnerable, the public distribution system, and the system of redressing grievances. The new central law against the glorification of widow burning and the Supreme Court Guidelines for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace were both initiated by the Rajasthan women’s movement led by Srivastava.

Sharada Ramanathan

A filmmaker and cultural activist, Sharada Ramanathan’s work bridges cinema and heritage. Her much-acclaimed National Award-winning Tamil film Sringaram - Dance of Love has made a grand return to cinemas in 2024, coinciding with the iconic Margazhi music and dance festival in Chennai. Revered as a cinematic masterpiece rooted in the Devadasi era of early 20th-century India, Sringaram is celebrated for its historical depth, artistic brilliance, and universal appeal.  

Mohammad Zubair

As a co-founder of Alt News, Mohammad Zubair’s investigative journalism exposes misinformation and propaganda. His fearless pursuit of truth makes him a target of oppressive systems but also a shining light on media integrity. Zubair told the BBC: “I feel I’m being targeted because of the work I do.” 

Kunal Purohit

He has dedicated about four years of his life to unveiling the hidden layers of popular culture manipulated by politics to sow seeds of fear and hatred. In a world dominated by mainstream narratives, Kunal, former journalist and now author of the book H-Pop, stands apart, challenging the status quo and offering a genuine alternative that prompts readers to question, reflect, and re-evaluate their understanding of contemporary society, which can threaten its evolution by the misuse of popular culture and social media. Through his research and analysis, Kunal Purohit deep dives into the underbelly of popular culture, primarily popular music, unravelling the intricate ways in which it becomes a powerful tool in the hands of politics.