Bengaluru:
Ragini Sharma’s life journey is a testament to quiet resilience, self-belief and the power of perseverance. Her story, shaped by hardship and determination, has earned her the ‘Self Motivator’ honour at the Abhaya Bravery Award 2026 – Season 2, recognising her remarkable journey from struggle to self-empowerment driven by inner strength.
The award will be presented on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 5 pm onwards at the Alliance Française de Bangalore Auditorium, in association with the Bangalore Sports Lovers Association and Team Abhaya.
Early life rooted in values and equality
Born on March 8, 1980, in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Ragini Sharma grew up in a middle-class family led by her father Shiv Dutt Sharma, a disciplined and hardworking businessman, and her mother Kamalesh Sharma, a devoted homemaker. Raised alongside three brothers and a sister, Ragini recalls a childhood free from gender discrimination, where daughters were treated on par with sons.
“These values shaped who I am today,” she says, crediting her parents for instilling dignity, equality and responsibility.
Education and the first turning point
Ragini completed her schooling at Blue Bird Higher Secondary School, Aligarh, before moving to Bengaluru, where she pursued PUC at Bishop Cotton Women’s College and later earned a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from VHD College.
However, her family’s fortunes took a sharp turn when her father’s business failed, forcing Ragini to shoulder household responsibilities at a young age.
Hardships that forged resilience
Her professional life began with a modest job as a salesperson in a jewellery store, earning just ₹2,000 a month. To survive, she took up weekend promotional work. During this financially difficult phase, her mother suffered a heart attack, and the family faced a hospital admission without money.
An unexpected act of kindness from a stranger helped them through the crisis — a moment Ragini recalls as proof that sincerity attracts support.
Career rebuilding and marriage
Ragini later joined Carbon as a manager, working there for three years. During this phase, she met Sagar B N, a mechanical engineer and internationally certified fitness expert. After a decade-long relationship, they married on March 12, 2010.
Post-marriage, Ragini briefly stepped away from work but, with her husband’s support, returned to professional life as an Assistant Manager at Mahindra, where she worked for two years.
Motherhood, loss and reinvention
In 2012, Ragini became a mother. Soon after, she faced two life-altering challenges — the loss of her mother and a slip disc surgery that left her bedridden for three months.
Instead of giving up, she chose reinvention. During recovery, she completed a Diploma in Teacher Training, marking a new direction in her life.
Building independence through education and enterprise
With her husband’s support, Ragini began teaching at Jumbo Kids, gaining experience before starting her own coaching centre above her home. Teaching students from LKG to Class 10, she built her institution on discipline, consistency and personal attention.
The centre remains operational and successful, making her financially independent.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education, Ragini adapted once again, launching an online business dealing in apparel, perfumes and lifestyle products.
Recognition as ‘Self Motivator’
Ragini’s journey of self-driven growth and perseverance has now been recognised through the Abhaya Bravery Award 2026, where she is honoured under the category ‘Self Motivator’ — celebrating individuals who rise through adversity without external validation.
“I may not be a celebrity, but I am a silent hard worker,” she says. “I compete only with myself to become better every day.”
A message to women
Ragini believes true empowerment lies in self-reliance.
“No woman should depend on a man for survival,” she says. “Behind my success stand two men — my father and my husband — but the journey is mine.”
As she prepares to receive the Abhaya Bravery Award, Ragini Sharma’s story stands as a reminder that courage does not always roar — sometimes, it quietly rebuilds life, step by step.