On International Women’s Day in 2018, the Hindu Council of Australia decided to institute an award for outstanding women in Australia who make good role models for growing-up Hindu girls and women. The award will consist of a commendation letter and will be awarded in multiple categories.
The award is named after an ancient Indian philosopher considered to be the first woman philosopher Gargi Vachaknavi (c. 7th century BCE). She is honoured as a renowned expounder of eternal knowledge in Vedic Literature. She participated in a philosophic debate and challenged the established male sage Yajnavalkya, the only lady to do so. She is also said to have written many hymns in Rigveda. (Source: Wikipedia).
Nominations for the 2025 Gargi Awards are now open from 11th January 2025 to 11th March 2024. The award ceremony date will be announced soon.
Please read the selection criteria below before filling out the form.
Click here to submit the nomination form for the Gargi Awards 2025
Selection Criteria
- Proven leadership skills and impactful contributions in their specific areas of expertise/profession.
- Made a positive difference or had a significant effect on the lives of individuals globally or within their local community.
- Individuals who have made substantial efforts to enhance the community through their profession, education, or skills, while balancing their daily responsibilities or fully dedicating themselves to community betterment.
- Self-nominations are accepted
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It is essential to include a minimum of two community references besides the nominator’s (or three if you are self-nominating) if shortlisted. (all shortlisted nominees will be informed)
- Resident of Australia
- All women over 18 years of age from across Australia
- Not be an office bearer of the Hindu Council of Australia
- Not an elected representative of any local council, state or federal parliament.
- Not an office bearer of any political party
- Must not have previously received the Gargi Award.
- One nominee can apply to one category only
Award Categories
- Sports (Athletics, track, contact, racket, combat, coaching & mentoring)
- Frontline Emergency Services (Defense, Police, Fire, emergency services)
- Performing Arts (dance, music, opera, theatre, magic, illusion, mime, spoken word, puppetry, circus arts, stand-up comedy, teaching & mentoring)
- Language & Literature (novel, poem, short story, drama, prose, biography, autobiography, memoir, play, teaching & mentoring, creating awareness)
- Science and Research (AI, Diseases, genetics, medicine, nanotechnology, renewable energy, global warming, robotics, mental health, climate change, teaching & mentoring)
- Community Service (domestic violence, emergency relief, blood donation, family support, social housing, emotional support, elderly care, minors & young people, mentoring)
- Visual Arts (painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture, teaching & mentoring)
- Journalism (research, compose and edit news stories, reports and opinion pieces for print or electronic publication, independent journalist or work for a publication, whistleblower, an activist reporting on a specific topic or a specific issue regularly, teaching & mentoring)
Nomination Process
- All nominations will be filled out online.
- The nominated individual must give their consent and confirm their attendance at the award ceremony if their name is among the top three finalists.
- Proof must be supplied via internet links or testimonials from individuals who are familiar with or should be knowledgeable about the nominee.
Selection process
- The Gargi Award committee will review all submissions and eliminate those that are incomplete, inaccurate, lack supporting evidence, or fail to meet the selection criteria.
- Details of the shortlisted nominees will be forwarded to the judges, who will evaluate them based on the selection criteria.
- The scores awarded by the judges will be compiled to determine the overall score for each nominee, with the nominee achieving the highest score will be declared the winner.
- Nominees will be notified of their acceptance or rejection promptly after the committee has finalized the shortlist.
Award Ceremony
- The top 3 finalists will be announced in the award ceremony.
- Winners will be announced on the stage, at the time of the presentation.
- All shortlisted nominees will be invited along with the top 3 finalists.
Click here to submit the nomination form for the Gargi Awards 2025
Links for the Gargi Awards finalists (current & previous)
Gargi Awards 2023
Gargi Awards 2022
Gargi Awards 2020
Gargi Awards 2019
Gargi Awards 2018
