Women's Rights Activist Sonya Gill Passes Away at 70 in Mumbai
Sonya Gill, a prominent women’s rights activist and former Maharashtra Secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), passed away on Tuesday in Mumbai at the age of 70 following a prolonged illness.
Gill was also the co-founder and trustee of the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI). She is survived by her husband, renowned journalist P. Sainath, who was accompanying her when she collapsed during an evening walk on Tuesday.
During the early years of her activism, Gill worked extensively across Mumbai, highlighting women’s issues in areas such as the BDD chawls, Jijamata Nagar, and Delisle Road. Within AIDWA, she was known for paying meticulous attention to the ideological and organisational training of women activists.
Colleagues at PARI remembered her as an inspiration for her courage and strong work ethic. AIDWA leadership also paid tribute to her decades-long contribution to women's rights.
“It is extremely shocking and distressing to know that our dearest comrade, Sonya Gill, is no more. It is unbelievable,” said Mariam Dhawale, vice president of AIDWA, who shared a working association with Gill spanning more than 32 years.
“Sonya was a great fighter. She combated her illness with remarkable courage and continued to participate in AIDWA activities till the very end,” Dhawale said, describing her passing as an immense and irreparable loss for the organisation.
