Pooja Sharma, who has performed funeral rites for over 4000 people, has been named on BBC’s list of 100 inspiring and influential women across the globe for the year 2024. Her name features alongside the likes of Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, actor Sharon Stone and Olympic athletes Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix.

Ms Sharma has been performing the last rites of unclaimed bodies in Delhi for the past few years.

While announcing the names of the 100 women, the British broadcaster noted that it acknowledges the toll this year has taken on women and that it celebrates those, who through their resilience, have been pushing for change. “The list also remains committed to exploring the impact of the climate emergency, highlighting climate pioneers who work to help their communities tackle its impacts,” it added.

Who is Pooja Sharma?

Born on July 7, 1996, in the national capital, Ms Sharma comes from a middle-class family. She has founded an NGO, named Bright The Soul Foundation, which works towards the welfare of the marginalised communities, with an aim to inspire and empower people.

According to its official website, Ms Sharma lost her elder brother on March 12, 2022. He was “brutally murdered in front of her eyes due to a small argument.” Ms Sharma performed the last rites by tying a turban on her head after nobody came forward to help them.

Over the past three years, she has performed the last rites for thousands of unclaimed bodies in India’s capital city.

She has faced resistance from priests and her community since the role has traditionally remained reserved for men in the Hindu faith.

Ms Sharma, despite the backlash, has performed funerary rites for people from different faiths and religions to give everyone the dignity they deserve in death.

She often shares her work on several social media platforms and has close to 3.50 lakh followers on Instagram.

Ms Sharma’s NGO also works towards environmental welfare, old age care, abandoned children and child education. They provide people with various necessary items free of cost.

Three Indians have made it to the list of BBC’s 100 Most Influential and Inspiring Women of 2024. Social activist Aruna Roy, wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat, and funerary rites pioneer Pooja Sharma have joined a stellar lineup that includes stranded astronaut Sunita Williams, Hollywood actress Sharon Stone, rape survivor Gisele Pelicot, Nobel Peace laureate Nadia Murad, and climate activist Adenike Oladosu.

Aruna Roy, Social Activist

Social activist Aruna Roy has dedicated over four decades to championing the rights of India’s rural poor. A former civil servant, Ms Roy co-founded the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), an organisation advocating for transparency, fair wages, and government accountability. Her efforts were instrumental in enacting India’s Right to Information Act in 2005.

As president of the National Federation of Indian Women, Ms Roy continues to lead grassroots movements and published her memoir, The Personal is Political, earlier this year. 

Vinesh Phogat, Olympic Wrestler

Vinesh Phogat, a three-time Olympian and one of India’s most decorated wrestlers, has been a strong voice against gender bias in sports. She has earned medals in the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.

This year, she became India’s first female wrestler to reach an Olympic final but was disqualified after being 100 grams over the weight limit. Following this, Ms Phogat retired from wrestling and ventured into politics.

Known for speaking out against gender stereotypes, she led a prominent protest by Indian wrestlers against former Indian Wrestling Federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexually harassing female athletes – a charge he denied. The protest gained national attention when Ms Phogat and others were detained by police during a demonstration.

Pooja Sharma, Performer Of Funeral Rites

Pooja Sharma has redefined societal norms by performing funerary rites for unclaimed bodies – a role traditionally reserved for men in Hindu culture – in Delhi. Her mission began after the death of her brother, whose final rites she had to perform alone.

She is the founder of Bright The Soul Foundation and in the past three years, Ms Sharma has conducted over 4,000 last rites for people from various religions.