Medha Patkar Biography: Films, Awards, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Ethnicity

Medha Patkar is a prominent Indian social activist renowned for her unwavering commitment to social justice, environmental sustainability, and the rights of marginalized communities.

Born on December 1, 1954, in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Maharashtra, India, she has been at the forefront of numerous grassroots movements, most notably the Narmada Bachao Andolan, which opposes large dam projects that displace indigenous populations without adequate rehabilitation.  

Profile

• Full name: Medha Patkar
• Date of birth: December 1, 1954
• Age: 71 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• State of origin: Maharashtra
• Nationality: Indian
• Profession: Social Activist
• Height: N/A
• Parents: Vasant Khanolkar (father), Indumati Khanolkar (mother)
• Siblings: Mahesh Khanolkar (brother)
• Spouse: Previously married; currently divorced
• Children: None
• Relationship status: Divorced
• Ethnicity: Indian
• Net worth: ₹2,226

Early Life and Education

Medha Patkar was born on December 1, 1954, into a family deeply rooted in social activism. Her father, Vasant Khanolkar, was a freedom fighter and labour union leader. At the same time, her mother, Indumati Khanolkar, was a gazetted officer in the Post and Telegraphs Department and actively involved in women’s welfare organizations.

She pursued her undergraduate studies at Ruia College in Mumbai and later earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Initially, she worked with voluntary organizations in Mumbai’s slums and tribal districts of Gujarat.  

Her academic pursuits led her to enroll in a Ph.D. program focusing on the impact of development on traditional societies, but she left it unfinished to dedicate herself fully to activism.

Personal Life

Medha Patkar was married for seven years, but the marriage ultimately ended in divorce. She has no children and has remained single since. Her personal life has been largely private, with her primary focus being her activism and social work.

Career

Medha Patkar‘s activism began in earnest in the 1980s when she became involved with communities affected by the Narmada Valley Development Project (NVDP), a large-scale plan to dam the Narmada River and its tributaries.

She co-founded the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), which became a significant movement advocating for the rights of displaced people and challenging the environmental and social impacts of large dams.

Beyond the NBA, she founded the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), a coalition of various grassroots movements across India working on issues ranging from land rights to environmental justice. She also initiated the Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan in Mumbai, focusing on housing rights for slum dwellers.

Her activism has not been without controversy. In July 2024, she was sentenced to five months in jail and fined ₹10 lakh in a defamation case filed by the then Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena. The sentence was suspended for one month.

Awards

• 1991: Right Livelihood Award
• 1992: Goldman Environmental Prize
• 1995: Green Ribbon Award for Best International Political Campaigner by BBC, England
• 1999: Human Rights Defender’s Award from Amnesty International, Germany
• 1999: M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award from Vigil India Movement
• 1999: Person of The Year by BBC
• 1999: Deena Nath Mangeshkar Award
• 1999: Kundal Lal Award for Peace
• 1999: Mahatma Phule Award
• 2001: Basavashree Award
• 2013: Matoshree Bhimabai Ambedkar Award
• 2014: Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice

Net Worth

As per her 2014 election affidavit, Medha Patkar declared assets worth ₹2,226.

Social Media

• N/A

Filmography

• Laloorinu Parayanullathu (2012)
• Turbulent Waters (2001)
• Water Wars (2009)