Dr. Anita Ghai was a leading Indian academic, disability rights activist, and feminist who has made significant contributions to the fields of disability studies and gender justice. Born with a locomotor disability, Ghai’s personal experiences have deeply influenced her scholarship and activism, making her one of the most influential voices in challenging ableism and advocating for inclusion in India.
She began her academic career at Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, and later joined Ambedkar University Delhi as a professor in the School of Human Studies. Her work explores the intersections of disability, gender, sexuality, and the body. Ghai has critiqued both mainstream feminist movements for ignoring the concerns of disabled women and disability rights discourses for being gender-blind.
Her major publications include Disability in South Asia: Knowledge and Experience and Rethinking Disability in India, which are widely regarded as foundational texts in Indian disability studies. In her work, she moves beyond the medical model of disability to highlight the social and structural barriers that limit the lives of disabled people. Ghai also challenges normative ideas around care, dependence, and autonomy.
Outside academia, Ghai had been active in public discourse and advocacy. She worked to promote accessible environments and has spoken widely on issues like reproductive rights, education, and health for people with disabilities.