What happens when something deeply personal becomes the starting point for creating change?

In this episode of Purpose Gen Voice, human rights lawyer and researcher Shiwani Agrawal shares a journey shaped by that question. Her work today spans gender, reproductive and menstrual rights, access to justice, and human rights, but its roots go back to her own experiences growing up in the small town of Forbesganj in Bihar.

One of the most powerful parts of her story is Break the Silence, an initiative she started with her mother and friends to speak with children about consent and sexual abuse. What began locally eventually reached more than 50,000 women and girls across India. The journey was far from straightforward. Schools sometimes resisted conversations about consent and sex education, while sessions with children revealed experiences that required far more than awareness raising. Shiwani talks candidly about learning along the way, including the need for legal aid, mental health support and approaches that allow communities to shape solutions themselves.

The conversation also goes beyond Break the Silence. Shiwani reflects on researching the Bhopal gas tragedy through a feminist and intersectional lens, and on what working with women in rural communities has taught her about how gender, caste, poverty and access to basic services can intersect. She shares moments when wanting to help was not enough, and when intervening without understanding the context could potentially cause greater harm.

Perhaps most relatable for a generation confronted every day with news of conflict, inequality and injustice is her reflection on how to keep going when the problems feel overwhelming. Her response is not that everyone needs to solve the biggest problems. It is about finding what you can do and believing that even a small contribution can make things better.

And for young people wondering where to begin, Shiwani leaves a simple challenge: question things. Don't automatically accept the first explanation you encounter. Investigate, seek accountability and try to understand what lies beneath an injustice. Sometimes, that questioning can become the beginning of your own purpose.

🎙️ Listen to the full episode of Purpose Gen Voice to hear Shiwani's story in her own words.