Swamini Radha Ladkrisnan

Indian philosopher challenging caste system through education and spiritual leadership

Swamini Radha - Breaking Chains Through Education

Swamini Radha (b. 1972) is the first woman in India's 5,000-year-old Advaita Vedanta tradition to be ordained as a spiritual leader (Swamiji). Establishing the Shraddha Foundation in 2005, she has empowered over 50,000 marginalized girls through education and vocational training. Her unique approach integrates traditional wisdom with modern gender equality principles, challenging centuries-old caste and gender norms.

In 2018, her initiative 'Girls to Gurus' program trained 1,200 Dalit women as temple priests - a role previously restricted to high-caste males. Her writings on non-dual spirituality have been translated into 12 languages, influencing global conversations about intersectional feminism and religious reform. The Indian government honored her with the Padma Shri award in 2022 for her contributions to social justice.