The (Em)Power List 2018: Harshini Kanhekar | Verve Magazine
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June 29, 2018

The (Em)Power List 2018: Harshini Kanhekar

The country’s first female firefighter, she has been challenging traditional gender roles by dousing fires for close to two decades

Harshini Kanhekar
38, Firefighter

In a patriarchal country like ours, shattering the glass ceiling and breaking stereotypes is no cakewalk for women — not for those hailing from privileged backgrounds, and even less so for those coming from small towns. But, proving it’s possible is firefighter Harshini Kanhekar, who has been challenging traditional gender roles by dousing fires across the country for close to two decades. The Nagpur girl enrolled in the National Cadet Corps back in 2002 which prompted her to apply for the armed forces. But somewhere in the middle of it all, a recommendation from a friend had her apply for a fire engineering course at the National Fire Service College in her hometown. After bagging one of the coveted 30 seats, Kanhekar officially became the country’s first female firefighter. Since 2006, she has been working with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and is currently posted at the company’s Mumbai offshore drilling service firm, where she serves as the deputy manager of fire services.

“I think Harshini is a prime example of the determined Indian woman, who refuses to let gender and social constructs stand in the way of her dream, and that makes her totally awesome.”
– Karishma Joshi, 23, Student, Mumbai

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Next: Namrata Jai

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