Gita Sahgal Biography 
Gita Sahgal is a writer and journalist on issues of feminism, fundamentalism, and racism. She is also known as a documentary film maker and a women's rights and human rights activist. She has also been head of Amnesty International's Gender Unit, and has opposed the oppression of women in particular by religious fundamentalists. In February 2010 she was suspended by Amnesty for her bad remakes of the organization and high-profile associations with Moazzam Begg. Her criticisms were quoted by quoted by The Sunday Times. She is the daughter of the novelist Nayantara Sahgal and the granddaughter of sister Vijayalakshmi Pandit. Thus she is the great-niece of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Gita Sahgal was born in Mumbai in 1957. Her schooling was done in Mumbai and in 1972, she moved to Mumbai. She graduated from London's School of Oriental and African Studies and later returned to India in 1977. She joined the civil rights movement in India and again moved back to England in 1983. Though she was born and brought up in Hindu background, she believes herself to be an atheist. In 1979 she co-founded Southall Black Sisters which fought against domestic violence, racism, bigotry and sexism. In 1989 she co-founded and has participated with Women against Fundamentalism to challenge the rise of fundamentalism in all religions which was protested by British government that supported Christianity only.
While at Delhi, she has worked a lot for women and has been a part of a feminist network that fought against rape and dowry laws. She has publically commented against injustice against women. As an author, she co-edited Refusing Holy Orders: Women and Fundamentalism in Britain with Nira Yuval-Davis. In 2002 she produced the film, Tying the Knot.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 12, 2018
