Salute on International Women’s Day – 2026

Michelle Obama once had said – “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish”.

Serena Williams, International sportswomen had also raised her voice saying – The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up !

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women’s advancement. Since 1911, IWD belongs to all who care about gender equality.

This is what women are today !

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8 – a global day recognizing women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements while calling for accelerated action on gender equality. Originating from early 20th-century labor movements, it is a day for advocacy, awareness-raising, and celebrating progress toward a gender-equal world. 

Photo story: Currency Notes from G20 Nations

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women’s advancement. Since 1911, IWD belongs to all who care about gender equality.

Now, on this day, I convey my salute and is highlighting the activity, success and distinction of few international women, who are elite in class and left impression in Society for next generation. Following bank notes/stamps, whatever I have projected here as supporting to my brief of each women, are all from my personal world wide collections made through last 52 years.

Florence Knightingale (1820 – 1910) :

Nightingale was an English social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing. Gave nursing a favorable  and prestigious reputation and became an icon of Victorian culture, especially in the persona of “The Lady with the Lamp” making rounds of wounded soldiers at night. The Bank of England featured Florence Nightingale on the Series D £10 note from 1975 to 1994, making her the first historical woman (excluding the Queen) to appear on a British banknote.  This very bank note was designed by Harry Ecclestone.

Marie Curie(1867 – 1934) :

She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields. Marie and Pierre were first married couple to win the Nobel Prize and launching the Curie family legacy of five Nobel Prizes. She was, in 1906, the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris.

Marie Curie has been featured on both French and Polish banknotes, recognizing her scientific achievements and dual heritage. Most notably, she appeared on the French 500-franc note from 1995 until the euro’s introduction, featuring her and Pierre Curie. She also appeared on the Polish 20,000 zloty note in the 1980s/90s and one more commemorative note of 20 złoty note issued in 2011. 

Selma Lagerlof (1854 – 1940) :

She was a Swedish writer  and published her first novel at the age of 33. She was first woman to win Nobel for Literature in 1909.

Gabriela Mistral (1889 – 1957) :

Known for her powerful, emotive, and often dark lyrical poetry focusing on themes of love, death, motherhood, and nature, she also served as a Chilean consul and advocate for education. She was first Latin American lady to receive Nobel prize in Literature in 1945. She was from Chile and her country has recognized her by featuring her in a polymer bank note of 5000 pesos.

Mary Somerville (1780 – 1872) :

Mary Somerville was a Scottish scientist, writer, and polymath. She studied mathematics and astronomy, and in 1835 she and Caroline Herschel were elected as the first female Honorary Members of the Royal Astronomical Society.   She was first woman other than a royal to appear on an RBS note. She featured in a 10 pound  bank note of Scotland issued in 2017.

Jane Austane (1785 – 1817) :

Jane Austen was an English writer known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen’s plots often explored the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. The Bank of England  issued £10 polymer banknote, on September 14, 2017, featuring  author Jane Austen on the reverse side to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her death.Thisbank note was issued by Bank of England  featuring a face of woman (other than QE II)  just after a period of 42 yrs. This was designed by the Bank of England’s in-house banknote design team.

Ecaterina Teodoriu (1894 – 1917):

She was a Romanian Woman who had fought on the front and died in WW-I and is regarded as heroine of Romania. Important to mention that for the first time in Romanian history, the face of an woman has appeared on an Official bank note. The 20 lei Romanian banknote featuring World War I heroine Ecaterina Teodoroiu was designed by the National Bank of Romania and was issued on December 1, 2021.

Tewhida Ben Sheikh (1909 – 2010):

She was the first modern Tunisian and North African woman to become a physician of country. She was also a pioneer in women’s medicine, in particular contraception and abortion access. She had featured on a Country’s 10 Dinar bank note honouring a female history maker in the country’s medical history.

Nadia Murad Basee Taha (1993 Born):   

Murad is the founder of Nadia’s Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to “helping women and children victimized by genocide, mass atrocities, and human trafficking to heal and rebuild their lives and communities”. In 2018, she and Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.” She is the first Iraqi and Yazidi to have been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

Wangarl Maathai (1940-2011):

She was a Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on planting trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights. In 2004 she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Images from author’s personal collection

Anindya Kar

Retired as ONGC’s General Manger, initially inspired from Late Father’s bank note collections of Indo British era at the age of 21 yrs. Consolidated further with age on World wide paper currencies, postal stamps / stationeries.