Celebrating the Legacy of Sushila Bohra: A Champion for Empowerment

Born in Jodhpur on May 20, 1940, Sushila Bohra has dedicated her life to education and social reform. She pursued higher education, earning an M.A. in Political Science and a B.Ed. After the early loss of her husband, she returned to teaching. Sushila lectured at Banasthali Vidyapith from 1966 to 1967 and at Mahesh Teachers’ Training College in Jodhpur from 1967 to 1984. In 1984, she joined the Government of Rajasthan as Project Director of the District Women’s Development Agency, marking a significant shift from teaching to institution-building.

A Lifelong Mission

Sushila's core mission has remained consistent throughout her career. She aims to create practical pathways to dignity and self-reliance for women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her efforts have focused on curbing child marriage, dowry, funeral feasts, untouchability, and substance abuse. At the same time, she has advanced family planning, adult education, khadi, health initiatives, tree plantation, and dispute resolution.

Institutions and Initiatives

Netraheen Vikas Sansthan

As the Founder President since 1977, Sushila established the Netraheen Vikas Sansthan. This rehabilitation institute supports visually, hearing, speech, and intellectually disabled students. It provides free education and lodging up to Class 12. Currently, the institute supports 1,247 students.

Sambal Mahila Prakoshth

In 1990, she became the Founder Honorary Secretary of Sambal Mahila Prakoshth. This initiative enables widowed and distressed rural women to start small enterprises. These include general stores, tailoring, parlors, and flour mills, supported through grants and loans. Over 7,500 women have benefited in the Jodhpur district.

Bal Shobha Sansthan

From 1987 to 2002, Sushila served as President of Bal Shobha Sansthan. This orphanage provides free education, shelter, and meals for 150 rural orphans from Western Rajasthan.

Gandhi Peace Foundation Centre

Sushila was the President of the Gandhi Peace Foundation Centre in Jodhpur from 1990 to 1995. She promoted Gandhian thought and literature, operated a large library, and ran the annual Sarvodaya Vichar Pariksha. She has worn khadi since 1967, embodying her commitment to Gandhian values.

Lions Club International

In 1999, Sushila became the District Governor of Lions Club International. She was the only woman among 47 District Governors in India that year. Her leadership led to club extension and publications, earning her multiple international commendations.

Leadership and Governance

Sushila has held sustained roles across various civic, educational, and social bodies. She served as a Senate Member at Jodhpur University from 1981 to 1984. She was the Coordinator of Akhil Bharatiya Swadhyay Sangh from 2000 to 2003. Additionally, she was the President of the Shri Jain Ratna Spiritual Education Board from 2003 to 2009 and the Vice President of the Akhil Bharatiya Jain Ratna Hitaishi Shravak Sangh from 2018 to 2019. Since 2009, she has been the President of Karuna International in Jodhpur and the Vice President of Prani Mitra Sansthan since 1999. This organization works in drought-hit Western Rajasthan to shelter cattle and curtail illegal slaughter.

Other notable service roles include her position as Founder Superintendent of the Working Women’s Hostel from 1989 to 2000 and as an Executive Member of the Lok Jumbish Council from 1992 to 1997. She has also contributed to various community bodies, such as Oswal Singh Sabha, where she was the first female office-bearer, and the Jaisal Women and Child Welfare Committee.

Sushila has served on statutory and quasi-judicial forums. These include the State Women’s Security and Support Centre Committee, District Lok Adalat (as a Member Judge), Internal Complaints Committee on Sexual Harassment (District & Sessions Court), Family Court, and the Chief Minister’s Budget Advisory Committee.

Recognition and Awards

Her work has been recognized at both state and national levels over four decades. Notable honors include:

• 16th Mahavir Award (2013)

• National Award for Disability Welfare (1992)

• Satpal Mittal National Award (2019)

• Sarojini Trilokinath Award (2007)

• Sambodhi Seva Ratna (2015)

• Marwar Ratna Award (2014); Marwar Ratna Samman (2009)

• Nari Shakti Award (2001)

• Helen Keller National Award (2003)

• Mother Teresa Award (2015)

• Gaurav Ratna Samman (2019)

• State-Level Indira Mahila Shakti Award (2022)

• Acharya Hasti Ahimsa Karyakarta Award (2022)

• Phool Kanwar Kankaria Shiksha Sadhana Award (2024)

• Jain Samaj Ratna Award (Sep 2024), first woman in 125 years

• Sangh Ratna (Sep 2024)

  
  

Government Recognition

Sushila has received Republic Day and Independence Day felicitations for her work in disability rehabilitation and women’s empowerment. She also earned a State Best NGO Award in 2007. In the Lions movement, she has received an International Leadership Medal, multiple President’s Appreciation Certificates, the Founder Member Growth Award, the Club Extension Award, and a Melvin Jones Fellowship, among others.

Media and International Exposure

Between 1981 and 2017, Sushila shared her work in 64 interviews on All India Radio and Doordarshan. In 1993, SIDBI sponsored her training in “Finance for Micro Enterprises” at Cranfield School of Management in London. She has participated in conferences and training sessions across India, Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The Times of India profiled her in “Footprints” in 2009.

Conclusion

From classrooms to government programs, and from orphanages to inclusive education, Sushila Bohra’s work has favored durable structures over one-off charity. The throughline is empowerment via education, enterprise, and the rule of law—particularly for rural women and persons with disabilities. Her legacy continues to inspire and uplift those in need, ensuring that they have the tools to live independently and integrate fully into society.

For more information, visit Netraheen Vikas Sansthan.