The market for women’s awards. Show business hidden behind the glitter of respect.
The purpose of Nari Samman should be to recognize women for their true role and contribution to society. But when recognition is limited to photos, certificates, and social media posts, it becomes not respect but a market for respect. More than trophies, women need equal opportunities, security, education, and a dignified life. They need a society where their hard work is recognized even without the glare of the stage.
Respect once held a profound meaning in society. Honoring someone wasn’t just a formal ceremony, but a moral obligation to publicly acknowledge their struggle, labor, and contributions. Respect meant society’s acknowledgment of the individual’s life’s role in paving the way for others. However, in recent years, a strange trend has emerged—a market for awards in the name of “women’s honor.”
Today, it seems as if every institution, every platform, and every organization is competing to distribute awards with grand names like “Nari Shakti Samman,” “Woman Icon Award,” “Woman Leadership Award,” and “Global Women Excellence Award.” Open social media and every other day, you’ll see photos of some woman being honored with the “International Women’s Honor” or “National Women’s Ratna.” Smiling faces on stage, glittering trophies in hand, and large banners behind—everything looks incredibly attractive. But behind these glamorous images lie many questions that often go unaddressed. The question isn’t why women are being honored; the question is: are these honors truly honors, or are they merely becoming a means of show and publicity?
In fact, today, “women’s empowerment” has become a term that, the more frequently used, the more its true meaning is diluted. Podiums are proclaimed, speeches extol the power and potential of women are delivered, long lists of awards are distributed, photos are taken, social media posts are made, and the next day, everything returns to normal. In all this, the women who need empowerment the most are often missing.
In Indian society, honors weren’t just about trophies or certificates. Honoring someone was a recognition of that person’s social contributions. It was a form of society’s expression of gratitude—that you paved the way for others through your life. But when the purpose of honor shifts to publicity, networking, and personal branding, its value gradually diminishes. Today, many award ceremonies have a vague selection process. Participants are sometimes required to submit their own nominations, while others charge a fee, and ultimately, almost everyone is honored in a lavish ceremony. In such events, stage decorations, camera flashes, and social media posts are given more importance than the dignity of the honor itself.
The era of social media has further accelerated this trend. Today, honors are no longer just certificates, but part of digital identity. As soon as someone receives an award, photos are shared on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The captions often read, “I received the International Women’s Honor.” Looking at these posts, it seems as if receiving honors is the ultimate goal of empowerment. Gradually, the competition for honors becomes more important than the actual work itself.
This trend is evident not only at the individual level but also at the institutional level. Many organizations use awards ceremonies as a means of publicity. They bestow grand titles, stage grand events, and then use the event to enhance their organization’s recognition. Sometimes, it’s even the case that a single individual is honored by several different organizations within a few months.
The biggest question is: if so many awards are being given, are the hardworking and struggling women of society truly coming to the fore? There are millions of women in rural India who are doing amazing work for their families, society, and communities. They are running self-help groups, promoting education in villages, contributing to environmental protection, or fighting against domestic violence and social evils. Many women are working tirelessly to educate their children despite limited resources. Many women are breaking social barriers and standing on their own feet.
But these women lack access to major platforms or the means to promote themselves. Therefore, their work often remains unnoticed. They rarely appear on honor lists. In contrast, some individuals are honored repeatedly. Sometimes they receive the “Mahila Shakti Samman” from an organization, sometimes the “Mahila Prerna Award” from another organization, and sometimes the “Rashtriya Mahila Ratna” from another platform. This situation calls into question the credibility of the honor itself.
Today, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that an “awards industry” has developed in some places. This industry has a set structure. First, an award is announced with a catchy name. Then, nominations are invited. A selection committee is formed, the process of which is often not transparent. Finally, a ceremony is held in a large hotel or auditorium, where dozens of people are honored.
Often, these events prioritize connections, recognition, and pay over actual accomplishments. Some even charge enrollment or registration fees. When honors are commodified, it’s natural to question their ethics.
Women’s empowerment won’t happen simply through awards. True empowerment will occur when society provides women with equal opportunities. Even today, millions of girls in India are deprived of education. Many women are economically dependent. Problems like domestic violence, gender discrimination, and social pressure still exist. Distributing honors without addressing these issues will not solve empowerment, but will be a beautification of the problem.
Honor is meaningful when it serves as a hallmark of struggle, not merely a decoration on the stage. If honor inspires, it propels society forward. But if it becomes merely a means of prestige and publicity, it gradually loses its meaning.
This responsibility lies not only with institutions, but also with society. We must understand that honors are only valuable when bestowed with honesty and transparency. We must also consider how the work of those being honored is truly impacting society. If we determine honors solely based on glamour and big names, those who make genuine contributions will always be left behind.
The purpose of Nari Samman should be to recognize women for their true role and contribution to society. But when recognition is limited to photos, certificates, and social media posts, it becomes not respect but a market for respect. More than trophies, women need equal opportunities, security, education, and a dignified life. They need a society where their hard work is recognized even without the glare of the stage.
Because history doesn’t ask how many awards someone received; history asks what they changed for society. And perhaps that’s the question we should be asking ourselves today—are we truly honoring women, or simply creating a new market for honor.
