Avabai Bomanji Wadia

Avabai Bomanji Wadia (18 September 1913 – 11 July 2005) was a Ceylonese-born Indian social worker, writer and the founder of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Family Planning Association of India, two non governmental organisations working to promote sexual health and family planning. She was honoured by the Government of India in 1971 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.

Biography Early life and education Avabai was born on 18 September 1913 in Colombo, British Ceylon (Sri Lanka), into an affluent and highly westernized Parsi family with roots in Gujarat, India. Her father, Dorabji Muncherji, was a well placed shipping officer, in 1985 and the Third World Prize in 1987. since 1956. She wrote extensively on the subjects of sexual health and family planning and some of her publications are: Population Education for the Younger Generation The Role of Voluntary Organisations in Promoting Family Planning and Population Policy Some Careers for Women Proceedings of the First Dr. C. Chandrasekaran Memorial Lecture, 30 October 2001 on population and development : the changing scenario Population development and the environment The light will belong to us all

He memoirs was published in 2001 under the name, The Light is Ours by the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati honoured Avabai Bomanji Wadia with the degree, Doctor of Law (honoris causa) and the Government of India awarded her the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1971. which manages the Dr. Avabai and Dr. Bomanji Khurshedji Wadia Archive for Women. A trust, Avabai Wadia Memorial Trust, has been established which is involved in family planning programmes in association with other non governmental bodies and medical institutions and conducts regular endowment lectures on the subject.