A Strong Voice for Ordinary People; AIDWA Leader Sonya Gill Dies at 70

Mumbai: Sonya Gill (70), former member of the central executive committee of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and former Maharashtra state secretary, has died. She had been undergoing treatment for a prolonged illness. She died in Mumbai. Senior journalist P Sainath was her husband.

AIDWA’s central committee said in a condolence message that Sonya Gill’s death was an irreparable loss to the organisation and women’s rights movements. She had worked as a leading organiser of AIDWA for several decades. She began her organisational work by mobilising working-class women in areas including the Worli BDD Chawls, Jijamata Nagar and Delisle Road in Mumbai. She later expanded her activities to various parts of Mumbai.

While serving as AIDWA Mumbai district secretary, Sonya Gill paid particular attention to the organisational and ideological development of female activists. She later took charge as AIDWA Maharashtra state secretary and worked actively to strengthen and expand the organisation across the state. She also served as a member of AIDWA’s central executive committee.

Even while battling a prolonged illness, Sonya Gill remained actively involved in AIDWA’s activities until her final days. She faced her illness with exceptional courage and dignity, never allowing personal difficulties to come in the way of her commitment to the organisation.

AIDWA said her contributions to the organisation, dedicated work, affection for her colleagues and her distinctive smile would remain forever in the memories of its activists. The central executive committee said Sonya Gill’s death had created a deep void in AIDWA and the women’s movement.

The AIDWA central executive committee expressed its condolences to Sonya Gill’s husband, Comrade P Sainath, her family members and colleagues.