The pioneers on Femina's cover

IMAGE: Lieutenant General Dr Madhuri Kanitkar, Alisha Abdullah and Harmanpreet Kaur feature on Femina India's August 2020 cover. Photographs: Kind courtesy Femina India

For its August issue, Femina magazine chose to put three inspiring female personalities on the cover.

'They are not models or actors. But they're role models who carved their niche,' Femina writes about its August cover personalities.

'For years, Indian women have been subjected to unabashed opinions on what they wear, where they go, and what professions they choose. Yet, some dared to dream and proved themselves in several fields, which until a few decades ago, were considered to be 'male' bastions,' the magazine added.

'These unstoppable women became the voices of change.'

The cover features Lieutenant General Madhuri Kanitkar, champion racing driver Alisha Abdullah and Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women's ODI/T20 cricket teams.

IMAGE: 'A soldier. A doctor. A teacher. She has taken on all these roles with determination and pride,' Femina describes General Madhuri Kanitkar who 'has taken great strides in being on the forefront, in whatever she undertakes.'
'As India's only woman lieutenant general in the army currently, and the third in Indian history, she has broken society-perceived stereotypes.'

IMAGE: 'I didn't know then whether women played professionally or not, as all I had seen on the television was men's cricket,' Harmanpreet Kaur tells Femina.
'Breaking those barriers has been an uphill task for women cricketers, though times are changing,' the skipper adds.

According to Femina, Alisha Abdullah wasn't really defying norms because 'racing was in her DNA.'
'Abdullah holds the record for being India's first female national racing champion, super-speeding in bike, kart, and car racing sportswoman, breaking stereotypes and doing everything society says women shouldn't do.'

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