Good evening, everyone.

It is an absolute honor to stand before you tonight as we celebrate 50 years of UNFPA’s remarkable work with the Government of India. This moment is not just a milestone, but a testament to the resilience, dedication, and transformative power that UNFPA and its partners have brought to so many lives. I feel incredibly privileged to be part of this celebration, this journey of progress and hope.

I would like to begin by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Natalia Kanem, Ms Meeta Rajivlochan, Mr. Pio Smith, Mr. Shombi Sharp and Ms.Andrea Wojnar for their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and communities across India. Your work has been nothing short of revolutionary, and it’s a privilege to stand here today and honor the incredible impact you have made.

When I think about the word “empowerment,” what comes to mind is not just a concept but a deeply personal experience. Empowerment, to me, is the ability for every individual to have the power of choice—to create and live the life they envision for themselves. 

From basics like what you want to wear to what you want to study, to how much you want to study, to what you wanna do in life, to when and who you wanna marry, whether you wanna marry at all to having kids- 1? 5? Or none.. it's your life. It's your story to write. And you should be able to write it the way you want.

And the first and the most important tool that helps in making those choices is Education. 

I come from a family of professionals with my mom being a physics professor at the Delhi University and my dad being a chartered accountant. I am an engineer, myself- so education was given a lot of importance in my house. Education didn’t just give me knowledge; it gave me confidence- confidence to form my own opinions, to have a voice, and to stand strong in the world.

But education didn’t stop at school for me. Some of the most important lessons I learned came from home.I grew up seeing both my parents work. While my mom cooked the meals, my dad made the morning chai and my grandfather helped in the household chores. Yes, My mother spoke to me about periods, but my dad always asked “Which sanitary pads do you want me to order?”
 

My mom would chase the school bus whenever I missed it and drive me to the next stop, while my dad would lovingly oil my hair every weekend. There was no “man’s role” or “woman’s role” in our home—there were just roles and responsibilities shared equally. 

And that’s the world I want to live in—a world where men and women, boys and girls, share equal responsibilities, get equal opportunities, and equal freedoms to soar. Gender equality isn’t just about fighting for women’s rights; it’s about redefining what it means to be human. It’s about changing mindsets, starting from our homes.

If we are to achieve true gender balance, we need to begin at the root—with our families, with how we raise our children. We must treat our daughters and sons equally, give them the same responsibilities, the same freedoms, and the same encouragement to follow their dreams.

But change can’t happen without men. We need men to stand with us, to be our allies. I was blessed to have a very progressive father, who supported me at every step, who never doubted my potential simply because I was a girl. It’s men like him who push the cause of equality forward, and we need more men to step up.

And my mother, who’s strong mind has shaped a lot of my values, was a true trailblazer. In her time, she broke barriers, fought societal norms, and became the first woman in her family to earn a paycheck. Because she had the courage to defy convention, I have had the freedom to pursue my dreams and grow into the woman I am today. And today it is my responsibility to make way for the next generation. Whether it's through the films I choose to do or by creating opportunities for other women as a producer and an entrepreneur or by simply just inspiring a little girl somewhere that if I can, so can she- I promise to do everything in my power to be a part of this change. 

Because together, we can create a world where every individual—regardless of gender, background, or circumstance—has the opportunity to thrive. A world where empowerment isn’t just a word we speak about in meetings, but a reality we live and breathe every day.

And now, it is my great honor to introduce the grand premiere of the UNFPA India 50 Years and Beyond film. This film is not just a celebration—it is a powerful reminder of the transformative impact UNFPA has had, working hand in hand with the Government of India, to ensure access to healthcare, education, and opportunities for all. These are the stories of change, of empowerment, of lives transformed.

Let’s watch together as these stories unfold.

Thank you.