Meenakshi Gopinath is a social activist, educationalist and writer from India. She completed her bachelor’s degree in political science at Lay Shri Ram College for Women, master’s degree at Massachusetts University, doctoral degree at The University of Delhi and post-doctoral research at Georgetown University.
Dr. Gopinath served as the Principle of Lady Shri Ram College from 1988 to 2014. She brought significant improvements to the college and introduced new courses related to conflict resolution. She established the Center for Peacebuilding at the college, which is considered as the first initiative in Peace Studies for undergraduate students in India. Also, she has been the first woman to serve as member of the National Security Advisory Board of India.
In 1999, she established Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) and serves as the director of it. Through this organization, she promotes leadership of women in South Asia in the areas of peace, politics and diplomacy, makes networks of women through training and advocacy.
She has written many articles and books related to human rights, peacebuilding, Buddhist and Gandhian philosophy, gender and politics. She is also a member of Neemrana Peace Initiatives, the Pakistan-India People Forum for Peace and Democracy and the Chaophraya Dialogue in Kashmir and between India and Pakistan.
She has received several awards due to her activities for education and women empowerment such as; Padma Shri, Qimpro Platium Standard, Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Mahila Shiromani, Delhi Citizen Forum, Celebrating Womanhood Sough Asian Recognition and International Lifetime Achievement awards. She has also received M. Singhvi Fellowship Award at the David Davies Memorial Institute of International Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Honorary Doctorate from La Trobe University, Australia, Distinguished Alumna Award by Lady Shri Ram College for Women.