Her Story of Love & Courage: Sunita Narain

She Business Time
Sep 11
3 min read

In the heart of India’s environmental movement stands Sunita Narain, an environmentalist, activist, and writer whose courage has shaped the country’s ecological policies and whose love for people and the planet has inspired millions. For decades, she has been a fearless advocate, speaking truth to power and ensuring that sustainability remains at the center of India’s growth story.

🌱 Roots of Awareness

Born in 1961 in New Delhi, Sunita Narain’s journey into environmentalism began at a time when India was balancing the complexities of development and ecological preservation. With an education in sociology and an early passion for environmental justice, she joined the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 1982, working alongside Anil Agarwal, one of India’s pioneering environmentalists.

Here, she discovered her calling: to ensure that development must not come at the cost of people’s health, dignity, or the planet’s survival.

✨ Love for People and Planet

Her work at CSE has always been rooted in love for communities who are most vulnerable to pollution, climate change, and environmental degradation. She authored and co-authored numerous reports highlighting how environmental issues directly affect the poor — especially women who bear the brunt of water scarcity, indoor pollution, and climate vulnerability.

One of her landmark contributions was the State of India’s Environment reports, which became blueprints for policymakers and activists alike. Her focus has always been simple yet profound: environmental sustainability is not about forests alone; it is about everyday survival.

💪 Courage to Speak Truth to Power

Sunita Narain is known for her boldness. She has never shied away from challenging governments, corporations, or international agencies.

She was instrumental in pushing for the Right to Clean Air in Delhi, playing a key role in campaigns that led to the adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG) for public transport.
She strongly advocated for water harvesting and community water management, empowering rural communities to revive traditional methods of conservation.
On the global stage, she has consistently argued that climate change is a question of equity — that developed nations must take responsibility for their historical emissions while ensuring space for developing nations to grow sustainably.

Her courage lies not only in policy advocacy but in her ability to mobilize communities and inspire the youth to demand accountability.

🌍 Global Recognition

Sunita Narain’s voice resonates worldwide. She was listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2016. She has served on numerous international and national committees, shaping debates on climate policy, food safety, water security, and pollution control.

Her awards include:

Padma Shri (2005), one of India’s highest civilian honors.
World Water Prize (2005).
Recognition by the United Nations and global sustainability bodies for her leadership.

🌟 Love & Courage in Action

For Sunita Narain, environmentalism is not an abstract cause. It is about the right of every child to breathe clean air, every woman to access clean cooking fuel, every farmer to have water for crops, and every community to live with dignity.

Her love for India’s people and ecosystems is matched only by her courage to challenge unsustainable practices, even when it meant standing against powerful interests.

💚 A Legacy of Hope

Sunita Narain’s story is a reminder that sustainability is not just about technology or policies, but about justice, equity, and compassion. She teaches us that love for the planet means fighting for the people who depend on it most, and that courage means holding leaders accountable for the choices they make today that shape tomorrow.

✨ At She Business Time, we celebrate Sunita Narain’s journey as a story of love and courage — proof that one woman’s voice can spark national change and inspire a generation to fight for environmental justice.