Parmeshwar Godrej

Parmeshwar Godrej (68), wife of Adi Godrej, the chairman of Godrej Industries, is the undisputed hostess with the mostest, the Queen Bee, the A-list socialite. An intrepid collector of the world’s prettiest, most powerful people, she may have Bill Clinton and Richard Gere on her speed dial list and Oprah Winfrey on her guest list; but she is also recognised worldwide for her untiring efforts as an HIV/AIDS activist through her Heroes Project, a national advocacy and communications NGO that has initiated several award-winning HIV awareness campaigns, via print, television, radio, film and multimedia. 

Aishwarya Rai and Parmeshwar Godrej

While the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation became the primary funder for the Avahan programme, an ambitious effort to bring varied NGOs together under one umbrella to work on various aspects of HIV-related work, her efforts have also been recognised by UNAIDS, the Clinton Foundation and other organisations both global and national. She is also committed to working on women and children’s issues beyond HIV, including childhood immunisation, rural development and women’s empowerment.