Tragic death of Dr Martha Farrell, Director PRIA India

Dr. Martha Farrell of PRIA (Participatory Research in Asia) was killed in a terrorist attack on May 13th while working to promote gender equality in Kabul, Afghanistan. We all mourn her death and cherish her work.

Martha’s colleagues Darlene Clover and Budd L Hall write:

All action researchers are very sad to acknowledge the death of a friend, Dr. Martha Farrell, in an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 13. Martha, a highly respected activist scholar with Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) in India, was in Kabul providing gender training for the staff of the Aga Khan Trust. Martha was the Director of the PRIA International Academy of Lifelong Learning, a Dean of Gender Studies with the Indira Gandhi Open University, a women’s rights campaigner. She was a joyful spirit, a determined woman, a generous host and an effective feminist intellectual. She is survived by Rajesh Tandon, her husband who is the President of PRIA, Suheil her son who Directs a sports and development NGO in Eastern India and Tariqa, her daughter, who works as an institutional researcher at Grant McEwen University in Edmonton, Canada. For further information please see the PRIA website http://pria.org/blogs.php?action=view&blog_id=2935


Let her spirit soar!


Dr. Rajesh Tandon, president of PRIA and husband to Martha, offers the following update on behalf of his family:

Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues
We are deeply appreciative of and sincerely thankful to all for your warm, sensitive and caring messages and thoughts following the sudden and shocking death of our dear Martha on May 13, 2015 in Kabul.
Martha was brought back to Delhi by a special Indian Air Force plane on the afternoon of May 15th. She was received and taken to PRIA briefly, then brought home for people to pay their respects. Following a brief wake, her last rites were performed on May 16th at the Lodhi Electric Crematorium.
A memorial service was held at Masihgarh Church on the evening of May 16th. The following morning, on May 17th, a prayer meeting and remembrance service was held at Mata Ka Mandir, New Friends Colony. The next day, May 18th, we and a few select family members, took her ashes to Haridwar for immersion in the Ganga.
We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from friends and family and the generous and gracious messages from all of you. Your concern has greatly helped us in coping with this immense loss. Knowing that your thoughts and prayers are with us is a source of great strength and comfort. All of you have remembered Martha for her courage, love, warmth and competence; we will cherish these as we attempt to move forward in our lives together.
We understand that several of you have organized or will be organizing memorial and prayer meetings in her memory. We ask that you celebrate Martha’s life with the same joy and enthusiasm that she lived it.
Love and Regards
Rajesh, Suheil, Tariqa

Sending love from Hilary. I add my condolences to the many pouring in to honor Martha for her work. Martha’s work on gender was so brave. Martha was brave. What a terrible loss. May she rest in peace and may her spirit continue in the brave work of PRIA. Special best wishes to you dear Rajesh and family.