India has always had a tradition of strong and successful women. From the time of Razia Sultana, the princess of Delhi, to the Rajput queen Padmini, to the warrior queen Ahilyabai Holkar to the iconic Rani of Jhansi, Indian women have been powerful role models. In recent times, India born-American astronaut Kalpana Chawla exhibited what is possible, if you dream and work hard. India can also be proud to have had a lady prime minister in the late Indira Gandhi and a lady president in Pratibha Patil. On the occasion of International Women’s Day today, Sakal Times salutes some very successful women in Pune and Maharashtra, who continue the good work of their predecessors.