Dr. Sudha Padhye is a nonagenarian Founder member, who is enthusiastic and still energetically participates in all events of IWSA. She is a walking encyclopaedia of the growth of the organisation, right from its inception.
Dr. Padhye’s major contribution to IWSA from 1970s till date is towards the building and shaping IWSA along with the eleven other founder members. At IWSA, she held the position of Vice President (1973-1975), President IWSA (1979-1981, 1996-1998); Chairperson, Board of Trustee, member of Central Council till date. She was also the chairperson of Building Complex Committee, Convener of Ad-hoc Fund-raising committee, (1983-1997) until completion of Phase I (1986) and Phase II ((1997) of IWSA building. In addition, she, along with a legal member, has framed its Constitution for headquarters and branches across the country. Above all, working in a team, she has created the next line of leadership with high standards of ethics and service to the society, which is Dr. Padhye’s hallmark. Indeed, she is an embodiment of selfless service to science and society without expectations of any kind.
Dr. Padhye completed MSc Physics (Electronics) from Jabalpur University, Ph.D, Solid State Physics, University of Bombay and then Post-doctoral Research at Advanced Centre, UDCT, Mumbai (1966-68).
Dr. Padhye was a Lecturer in Physics at Kamala Raja Girls College, Gwalior, M.P. after completing MSc, later Lecturer in Applied Physics at College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai from 1970-1980.
After 1980, Dr Padhye dedicated herself in working for empowering women and women’s education. She did not pursue research or teaching further and dedicated her entire life to developing three NGOs viz., Indian Women Scientists’ Association, Women Graduates Union (an NGO founded in 1915) affiliated to International Federation of University Women’s Association (IFUA or GWI) and Indian Federation of University Women’s Association as well as Hindu Women’s welfare Association (of which the institute Shradhdhanand Mahilashram is a place for destitute women).
She has held various posts in all the NGO’s built and nurtured by her.
Over the years, Dr. Padhye, assisted by others, has built an impressive infrastructure at IWSA’s headquarters, Navi Mumbai and assisted in the formation of several branches in the country. Several ‘GREEN’ features like rainwater harvesting, composting of waste, biogas plant, solar water heating etc., have been installed over the years since the early 1990’s, making IWSA building a ‘simple model of a green building’. The foresight of our founder members, especially of Dr. Padhye, is exemplary in those early years when gender issues were not addressed.