Empowering women to take their rightful place in the world is the mission of Stella Maris, and Sheela Murthy is among the alumnae who have taken this to heart. The Smt. Indira Gandhi Endowment Lecture was instituted by Dr. Sr. Helen Vincent in 1985. Established in memory of India’s first and, to date, only female Prime Minister, it cannot be denied that she was a remarkable political leader and, as such, remains an example to young women. Stella Maris has used this forum to invite luminaries in many fields, to inspire generations of students with thought-provoking, motivational lectures.
On the heels of 2017 speaker and fellow alumna, Dr. Malini Parthasarathy, co-chairperson of the The Hindu, Murthy is the second distinguished alumna speaker in a row with credentials making her sought after to deliver the endowment lecture. Sheela was a student of the Department of History from 1979 to 1982. She was awarded the best outgoing student of the college in 1982, and is the very embodiment of an empowered woman. Her achievements are evidence of her ability, determination, leadership skills, legal acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and winning personality.
Murthy was able to inspire and motivate the girls in the History Department to look at life as a challenge, ask questions, and work to change society. She stressed to her audience that it is incumbent upon Stella Marians to take the lead and push for societal changes, focus on the rights of women, and work for a more just society. The impact of her address on these young women was immediately apparent from the overwhelmingly positive feedback she received.
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