Swapna Subhalaxmi Biswal is 20 years of age. She is a final year student of a graduate course at the Indira Gandhi Women’s College, Cuttack. Her story speaks of grit and perseverance. While at college, she came across a man selling pornographic material under the guise of selling posters and books outside the campus. Repeated requests for action against him both to the college administration and the local police station yielded little results. He was picked up once but let off after two days and he began once again hawking pornographic books outside the college.

Meanwhile, a group called the Task Force of Women Against Violence organised a gender training programme in the college. Swapna joined the training session and took the lead in organising students and NSS volunteers to protest against the selling of pornographic material outside the college campus. On the advice of the Task Force, Swapna posed as a decoy customer and the magazine seller was caught red-handed by the police. He was jailed on charges of sexual harassment and selling pornographic material. "I have been told by the police that I will have to give evidence against the man in court. I most certainly will as women cannot be looked upon as sex objects."

Swapna intends to study law after her graduation. She is now a source of inspiration for the students of her college who admire her ability to speak up against discrimination and injustice.