On International Women's Day, the Gargi chapter under the Let's Inspire Bihar campaign organized the Gargi Nari Shakti Conference 2025 at the J.D. Women's College Auditorium in Patna. 

Themed "Accelerating Action", the conference honoured over 250 women from across Bihar who have made remarkable contributions in their respective fields, bringing about positive changes in society and inspiring other women. The honoured women have made distinctive marks in education, entrepreneurship, arts, literature, social service, sports, medicine, acting, dance, music, and justice. All the winners are originally from Bihar, and many travelled from other states to attend the event in Patna. Thousands of women had submitted nominations for this honour, and after a rigorous selection process, these inspirational women were chosen.

The Gargi Chapter was established to revive Bihar's rich intellectual tradition and empower women in education and entrepreneurship. Currently, 24 Gargi Pathshalas (schools) operate in various districts of Bihar, providing free education to learned women. Additionally, women's entrepreneurship is being promoted through the Gargi Kala Kaushal Kendra (Art and Skill Center) and Gargi Kritya initiatives.

At this grand event, awards were presented in various categories: 51 distinguished women were honoured with the Gargi Excellence Award. 180 women received the Gargi Appreciation Award. 10 selected Gargi Speakers delivered insightful talks on topics related to the upliftment of women in Bihar. Priya Mallik was honoured with the Gargi Pride of Bihar award. 4 recipients received the Gargi Equality Award. 5 individuals were honored with the Gargi Excellent Leadership Award. Radha Shailendra from Katihar was awarded the Dr. Usha Kiran Khan Memorial Award for excellence in the field of literature. The Grandeur of the Conference and Distinguished Guests included names like Padma Shri awardee Nirmala Ji, Former member of the National Commission for Women, Sushma Sahu Ji, Popular Folk singer Neetu Kumari Nutan Ji, Vice-Chancellor of Jai Prakash University, Saran, Professor Parmendra Kumar Vajpayee ji, Sujeet Nayan, Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India, President of Bihar Mahila Udyog Sangh, Usha Jha ji, Retired Wing Commander Umesh Tripathi Ji, Head of the Arts and Social Sciences Faculty at IIT Patna, Shweta Sahi Ji, Professor Dr Farhad Hasan from Patna Women's College Psychology Department, President of the Sakhi Bahinpa Organization, Nisha Madan Jha Ji among other prominent personalities. The event saw the gracious presence of several other eminent personalities. The program commenced with Vedic chants and lamp lighting by the students of Gargi Pathshala, creating a spiritual and inspiring atmosphere. To showcase Bihar's rich culture, folk dances, traditional cuisines, and other cultural programs were organized. During the event, author Sudha Pandey's book Jaane Kahan Gaye Wo Din was unveiled by Vikas Vaibhav.

Attending the event as the chief guest, the dynamic and hugely popular senior IPS officer and founder of Let's Inspire Bihar, Vikas Vaibhav, stated that Bihar has always been the land of the highly learned Gargi Vachaknavi, whose principle was to believe only in what she had personally experienced as truth. The Gargi-Yajnavalkya Dialogue, in ancient Bihar, during a time when the intellectual prowess of women was not recognized anywhere else in the world, stands as a living testament to the intellectual excellence of women in Bihar. This campaign is dedicated to the memory of the erudite Gargi Vachaknavi, who challenged the greatest scholars of ancient India with her wisdom. Vikas Vaibhav emphasized that building a developed Bihar within a developed India by 2047 is no easy task. Citing a report, he mentioned that Bihar's current monthly per capita income is merely ₹5,028, the lowest in India, compared to Sikkim's ₹48,979. Although Bihar's growth rate is around 14.5%, even at this pace, achieving the vision of a developed Bihar by 2047 remains a significant challenge. To meet this goal, it is crucial to initiate an entrepreneurship revolution in Bihar. This requires rising above caste, community, gender, and ideological differences. Women's empowerment plays a critical role in this journey.

He further stated that Bihar is currently in a transition phase, and change is inevitable. However, while staying hopeful, everyone must contribute positively to society. He compared this transformation to the mobile revolution that occurred over the last 20-25 years. Back then, no one could have imagined that mobile phones and internet access would become so widespread. Similarly, we must remain optimistic about future changes. While discussing the Gargi Pathshala initiative under the Gargi Chapter, Vaibhav mentioned his initial doubts about its success. However, the campaign that began with just three centres in Patna has now expanded to 24 centres across Bihar, with 19 of them run by women.

Vaibhav shared an experience from 10-12 years ago when he was surprised to see a woman driving a truck in Singapore. Today, through the Let's Inspire Bihar campaign, even the Auto Rickshaw Union in Muzaffarpur has joined, including many female drivers. He expressed pride and happiness that what once seemed surprising abroad is now a reality in Bihar. This is a powerful example of women's empowerment. When a woman drives an auto or cab, it also fosters a sense of safety among other women who might otherwise feel hesitant or unsafe while traveling. These small changes hold deep significance and potential in Bihar's social context. He stressed that Bihar lacks no potential, and women's power has always been strong and revered here. Gargi Vachaknavi amazed the world with her intellectual excellence at a time when there was no such concept anywhere else. What Bihar needs now is to awaken the lion engraved on Emperor Ashoka's pillars, and this roar is impossible without the participation of women.

Mr Vaibhav highlighted the importance of women's involvement in Bihar's development. To further empower women, he suggested leveraging information technology and digital interfaces. He proposed two specific ideas: Creating digital work opportunities for women who prefer working from home and promoting women-led industries to access global markets. He emphasized a gradual, systematic approach toward 2047, focusing on connecting women with the industrial sector. He noted that an entrepreneurship revolution in Bihar is not possible without the active involvement of women.

Currently, over 1,70,000 people have voluntarily joined the Let's Inspire Bihar campaign. The Gargi Chapter has emerged as a leading platform for progressive women in Bihar, driving positive social change through initiatives like Gargi Pathshala, Gargi Art & Skill Centers, and other inspiring activities. Vikas Vaibhav concluded by highlighting Bihar's rich tradition of knowledge, valour, and entrepreneurship since ancient times. He emphasized the need to channel this energy in the right direction, moving beyond narrow-mindedness to contribute to national interests. Women's role is crucial in this endeavour, and this conference marks a significant step towards achieving this objective.