International Women’s Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at VIT-AP University on March 12, 2026. The event highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment and recognized the achievements and contributions of women across various fields.
The chief guest for the occasion was Manju Sarma, former Deputy Director of the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO, and Scientific Advisor at Geminus Space Private Limited.
In her address, she recalled the well-known saying that “where women are honoured, the divine resides,” emphasizing the importance of respecting and empowering women in society. She spoke about the growing role of women in social and economic development and the need to create greater opportunities for them.
The event was also graced by distinguished guests Dr. R. Sarada Jayalakshmi Devi, ViceChancellor of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, and Nikhitha Chadde, Co-founder and CEO of Genex Space. They shared insights into the history and significance of International Women’s Day and highlighted the importance of supporting women in leadership, education, and innovation.
Special guests included Dr. Kanmani Thivya Jas, psychologist, motivational speaker, and NLP master; N. Muthamil Selvi, the first woman from Tamil Nadu to scale Mount Everest, motivational speaker, author, and founder of the Tamil Adventure Trekking Club; and Anshika Singh, Software Engineer at BlackRock.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. P. Arulmozhi Varman, Vice-Chancellor of VIT-AP University, stated that the university gives strong priority to women in admissions and academic opportunities. He noted that when the VIT-AP campus was established in 2017, female students comprised only about 8 percent of the student population. Today, that number has increased to 33 percent, and the university hopes to reach 50 percent female representation in the near future.
On the occasion, prizes were also distributed to women staff members who excelled in various sports competitions organized as part of the celebrations. Faculty members, women students, and staff participated in large numbers, making the event a memorable celebration of women’s achievements and empowerment.
