Sonya Gill, AIDWA leader and women’s rights activist, dies at 70
Co-founder of the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), Sonya was dedicated to uplifting women in marginalised communities
Sonya Gill, a prominent women's rights activist and former Maharashtra Secretary of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 70 in Mumbai. She was suffering from a prolonged illness and had been co-founder and trustee of PARI (People's Archive of Rural India) alongside her husband, renowned journalist P. Sainath.
Gill's colleagues at PARI remembered her for her courage, work ethic, and inspiring leadership. In her role at AIDWA, she focused on the ideological and organizational training of women activists for over three decades. Mariam Dhawale, vice president of AIDWA, expressed deep shock and distress over Gill's passing, praising her as a great fighter who battled her illness with remarkable courage and never disclosed her pain to others.
Gill had been actively involved in women's issues in Mumbai's BDD chawls, Jijamata Nagar, and Delisle Road even while fighting her illness. Her grace and laughter were cherished by all, and her loss is deeply mourned by AIDWA.
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