ILA to Honour Brave Women

TDT| Manama

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Stories of grit, survival, and leadership will take centre stage on May 31st as the Indian Ladies Association (ILA) Bahrain hosts its flagship annual event, the Leela Jashanmal Lecture 2025, at the BIBF Auditorium.

This year’s event will feature India’s celebrated mountaineer Arunima Sinha and Bahrain’s own para-athlete and motivational speaker Shaikha Al Shaiba, highlighting narratives of overcoming physical challenges and societal barriers.

Honouring resilience

Arunima, a former national volleyball player, made global headlines as the first female amputee to scale Mount Everest after losing her leg in a train attack in 2011.

She went on to conquer six other major peaks, becoming a symbol of courage and willpower.

Joining her on stage will be Shaikha Al Shaiba, who has represented Bahrain internationally and is known for her passionate advocacy of para-sports and inclusion.

ILA, which was established in 1956 and is Bahrain’s oldest expatriate women’s charity, will also recognise the achievements of Bahraini para-athletes at the event in collaboration with the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation.

Legacy of dialogue

Named after ILA’s founder, the Leela Jashanmal Lecture honours women who break barriers.

Past speakers have included India’s leading reformers and changemakers such as Dr Kiran Bedi, Prof Shanta Sinha, and Dr Vandana Shiva.

Through this platform, ILA continues to encourage dialogue around empowerment, diversity, and leadership.

Now in its 69th year, ILA says the event celebrates “the enduring power of compassion, companionship, and cultural exchange” between Indian women and their Bahraini peers.

The organisers also encourage media to engage in preevent interviews and postevent coverage to expand the reach of the inspirational messages shared.

The event will be held from 5 PM to 7 PM and is open to the public.