Empowering Lives: Ranjini Ganesh's Fight for Safety and Self-Defence
- Deepak Jain
- Jan 2
- 2 min read
The Nirbhaya event in New Delhi shocked the nation in 2012, bringing to light the serious concerns of sexual abuse, assault, and rape. Ranjini Ganesh, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur, saw this tragic tragedy as a turning point. Ranjini, deeply concerned about her family's safety, particularly that of her daughter, resolved to take proactive action rather than live in terror. She founded the NIR-Bhaya Self Defence Academy in 2017 with the cooperation of her husband, G. Ganesh, and a Rs 2 lakh investment. Her purpose was to empower people from all walks of life to defend themselves and their families.
Since its beginning, NIR-Bhaya has trained approximately 3,000 individuals, including children, women, and men. The institution provides practical self-defense training in karate and kung fu, arming students with the ability to detect and defuse potentially harmful situations. Certified teachers guarantee that the training is engaging and effective, allowing participants to gain confidence and toughness.
Ranjini implemented short-duration training to meet the urgent need for personal safety. These two-hour classes teach participants the fundamentals of self-defense, preparing them to act in an emergency. For those desiring advanced instruction, the institution also has a belt system that allows pupils to rise to black belt status.
It has not been easy to run the academy. Financial limitations and poor cash flow are frequent roadblocks, and obtaining skilled trainers remains a substantial challenge. Despite these challenges, Ranjini continues to move forward, managing operations with existing resources while seeking government and institutional support to increase her effect.T
he academy's work has already transformed people's lives. Participants have reported their experiences leaving abuse and even blocking kidnapping attempts using techniques that they learned. These results have drawn students from other cities, as well as worldwide players. The media coverage of NIR-Bhaya's actions has strengthened its mission and inspired more people to join the cause.
Ranjini highlights the need of understanding abuse and self-defense. She works to eliminate popular fallacies, such as the idea that women are too weak to acquire martial arts or that abuse occurs only in dangerous situations.
She emphasizes the limitations of equipment such as pepper spray and the importance of full self-defense training that equips people to deal with a variety of situations efficiently.Looking ahead, Ranjini hopes to make self-defense training a common element of school curriculum. She expects a future in which parents demand such programs to keep their children safe. To do this, she is asking for government subsidies to train children in government schools, with intentions to train at least 2,000 students each year in Karnataka.
Ranjini Ganesh received the Outstanding Educator Award at the SIWAA Awards 2024 in Bengaluru on December 22, 2024, in recognition of her exceptional community efforts. This praise recognizes her commitment to educating and inspiring people to protect themselves, demonstrating that safety and strength are within everyone's reach.Ranjini's story is truly inspiring—one of strength, enthusiasm, and a never-ending desire to make a difference. She continues to inspire and educate people through the NIR-Bhaya Self Defence Academy, demonstrating that anyone can defend themselves and others if they have the necessary information and abilities.
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