Anjali Gopalan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anjali Gopalan
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Gopalan, circa 2009
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| Born | 1 September 1957 Madras, Madras State, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | LGBT rights activist, Executive Director of The Naz Foundation (India) Trust |
| Awards | #Awards and recognition § Notes |
Anjali Gopalan is an Indian activist who works for human rights and animal rights. She is the founder and leader of The Naz Foundation Trust. This organization helps people and animals in need.
In 2012, Time magazine named Anjali Gopalan one of the 100 most influential people in the world. This means she was recognized as someone who had a big impact globally.
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Early Life and Education
Anjali Gopalan was born on September 1, 1957, in Chennai, India. Her father was an officer in the Indian Air Force, and her mother was a homemaker. Anjali went to school at La Martiniere Lucknow.
She studied in both India and the United States. She earned a degree in political science from Lady Shri Ram College for Women. She also completed a diploma in journalism and a master's degree in International Development from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Helping Others: Social Work
Early Efforts
Before starting her own organization, Anjali Gopalan worked with groups in New York City. She helped people who had moved there from Southeast Asia and needed support. Later, she decided to create her own foundation, the Naz Foundation.
Starting the Naz Foundation
In 1994, Anjali Gopalan returned to India. She opened Delhi's first clinic for people living with HIV. In the same year, she started Naz Foundation (India) Trust. This foundation helps people who face challenges because of who they are. It also supports children affected by HIV. The foundation works to make sure everyone is treated fairly and has equal rights.
Expanding Support and Rights
In 2000, Anjali Gopalan opened India’s first home for children and women who were HIV-positive and needed care. She also taught healthcare workers how to care for these children.
In 2001, Anjali Gopalan's organization, Naz Foundation, took legal action to challenge a law called Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. This law made it difficult for some people to live freely and treated them unfairly. The Naz Foundation wanted to stop this unfair treatment. In 2009, the Delhi High Court agreed with the Naz Foundation. The court said that Section 377 went against people's individual rights. This was a big victory for human rights in India.
Awards and Recognition
Anjali Gopalan has received many awards for her important work.
- In 2001, she received the Commonwealth Award for helping people in need.
- In 2003, she was given the Sadguru Gnanananda Award for her support of those living with HIV/AIDS.
- In March 2007, the Ministry of Women and Child Development honored her as a Woman Achiever.
- In July 2012, she helped open the Alan Turing Rainbow festival. This festival celebrated diversity and equal rights for all people.
- In 2012, Anjali Gopalan also started an animal sanctuary called "All Creatures Great and Small." This sanctuary is a safe place for animals in Haryana.
- On October 25, 2013, France gave her its highest award, the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. This made her the first Indian Tamil woman to receive this special honor.
Awards and Special Recognition
Anjali Gopalan has been recognized with several important awards:
- People of the Year Award (2014)
Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (2013)- Time 100 Most Influential People in the World (2012)
- Woman Achiever Award by the Government of India (2007)
- Commonwealth Award (2001)
Anjali Gopalan Srishti Awards for Social Justice Journalism
The Srishti Madurai academic committee gives out the Anjali Gopalan Srishti Awards for Social Justice Journalism. These awards honor journalists who write about social justice issues. The first awards went to V. Mayilvaganan and V. Narayanswamy from The Times of India. They were recognized for their articles that highlighted issues about diverse groups of people and Santhi Soundarajan.
