Mohini Giri, an icon of women’s rights movement, dies at 86

She founded the War Widows Association in 1972. For her efforts in the field of women’s rights, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2007.

In a statement, the Guild of Service said, “Dr Giri has been an icon of the women’s movement with her strong advocacy for a gender-just world… Guided by her vision, the Guild runs shelter homes, family counselling centres, capacity-building centres and schools for underprivileged children in Delhi, Rajasthan Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh. It is her pioneering efforts that highlighted the unique vulnerabilities widows face, bringing national and international focus to the issue… She worked voluntarily, selflessly walking the many extra miles and touching the lives of thousands of women both directly and indirectly.”

Meera Khanna, President and Trustee, the Guild of Service, who had known Dr Giri for 23 years, said, “The women’s movement lost a great pillar. Dr Giri was like a mother to me, a mentor and a guide to me. She inspired me to take up the work of gender rights activism. Dr Giri took everyone along on this journey of gender rights activism. She was brave and someone who walked the talk,” Khanna said.

Women’s rights activist, writer and former member of Planning Commission, Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, who had known Dr Giri since they worked together at the National Commission for Women in 1997, said, “…I am Dr Giri’s disciple because she loved humanity regardless of class, caste, gender or religion.”

The daughter-in-law of former President Dr V V Giri, Dr Mohini Giri is survived by a son and daughter. Apart from heading several organisations, Dr Giri was also the founder and trustee of Women’s Initiative for Peace in South Asia, trustee of Navdanya, trustee of Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation and trustee of Foundation for Academic Excellence and Access (FAEA).