In Memory of Twisha Sharma, Indira University Introduces ‘Indira Stree’

Pune : Indira University, Pune, held a prayer meet today in honour of Twisha Sharma, a young woman, a former student, and a daughter whose tragic passing, which is attributed to dowry violence, has moved her alma mater from grief to action.
Twisha’s parents joined the gathering virtually. The room held them in silence. That silence said what words could not.
Led by Dr. Tarita Shankar, President – Indira University, Chairperson & Chief Mentor – Indira Group of Institutes, the gathering also marked the official inception of Indira Stree, a dedicated support initiative open to all women associated with the university, at any stage of life, beyond their time on campus. Faculty, students, and senior members of the institute were present, united by grief and by the recognition that grief alone is not enough.
“What happened to Twisha should never happen to anyone. Yet it happens often than we acknowledge, and in far more silence than we should ever accept. Today, we are saying loudly and clearly: if you are one of ours, you will never be without support. That is not a promise we are making. It is one we are keeping, starting now”, said Dr. Tarita Shankar.
Dowry violence continues to claim lives across India, often hidden behind silence and social stigma. Today’s gathering was a refusal to look away. Through Indira Stree, women will have access to emotional counselling, mental health support, career mentorship, legal referral assistance, grievance redress, and emergency support, because society must do more to ensure that no woman is left to face such struggles alone.
Speakers at the gathering addressed the realities of dowry violence, the unseen isolation women often carry long after leaving campus, and the urgent need for support structures that exist outside institutional boundaries. Their message was unambiguous – this was not a farewell to Twisha. It was a demand, made in her name, that her death not be another statistic absorbed in silence.
Twisha’s loss has left one thing undeniable: support cannot wait until a woman has exhausted every option. It must exist long before she finds herself with none.
Dr. Tarita Shankar closed with a message for every woman associated with the institute: “If you are struggling, if you are afraid, if you are carrying something you have never said out loud, we are with you. You are not alone in this. Raise your voice, and you will find us already standing beside you. No woman in this family will ever have to face her battles in silence.”