Ankushraj at 05:07, 7 October 2025

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{{Short description|Indian tribal leader}}{{Infobox person
| name = Hirabai Ibrahim Lobi
| image = Hirabai-lobi.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth year|1960}}
| birth_place = Talala tehsil, Gir Somnath district, Gujarat, India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|01|24|1960}}
| occupation = [[Social worker]]
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2023)
}}

'''Hirabai Ibrahim Lobi''' (1960{{Spaced en dash}}24 January 2025) was an Indian tribal leader and social worker from Gujarat,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2025-01-24 |title=Hirabai Lobi, who uplifted Siddis, dead |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/hirabai-lobi-who-uplifted-siddis-dead/articleshow/117531211.cms |access-date=2025-01-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> known for her tireless efforts to uplift the Siddi tribal community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=Who is Hirabai Ibrahim Lobi, the Padma Shri awardee who changed lives of over 700 Siddi women? |url=https://www.news9live.com/india/who-is-hirabai-ibrahim-lobi-the-padma-shri-awardee-who-changed-lives-of-over-700-siddi-women-mkir-au2321-2082956 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=News9live |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=कौन हैं Hirbai Lobi जिन्होंने पद्म श्री लेने के बाद राष्ट्रपति के कंधे पर प्यार से हाथ रखा? |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/hindi/women/hirabai-ibrahim-lobi-padma-shri-2023-viral-video-596753.html |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Indiatimes |language=hi-IN}}</ref> She was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in 2023,<ref>https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1893797</ref> one of India's highest civilian honors, for her contributions to social work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who is Hirbai Ibrahim Lobi? Gujarat tribal woman who won Padma Shri award |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/who-is-hirabai-ibrahim-lobi-gujarat-tribal-woman-who-won-padma-shri-award |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Division |first=Publications |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/India_2024/ekn9EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=hirabai+lobi&pg=PT812&printsec=frontcover |title=India 2024: A Reference Annual |publisher=Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting |isbn=978-81-19936-75-5 |language=en}}</ref>

== Early life and activities ==
She resided in Jambur village, located in the [[Talala, Gujarat|Talala]] tehsil of the [[Gir Somnath district|Gir Somnath]] district in [[Gujarat]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribal |first=The Indian |date=2023-02-22 |title=Community First, Padma Shri Hirabai Lobi’s Motto |url=https://theindiantribal.com/2023/02/22/achievers-tribal-delhi-gandhinagar-india-community-first-padma-shri-hirabai-lobis-motto/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=The Indian Tribal |language=en-US}}</ref> As a member of the [[Siddi|Siddi community]], which has African roots, Hirabai experienced the loss of her parents during her early years and was subsequently raised by her grandmother.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hirabai Lobi: 700 से ज्यादा महिलाओं और बच्चों का संवारा जीवन, जानें पद्मश्री हीराबाई लोबी के बारे में |url=https://www.amarujala.com/shakti/padma-shri-2023-hirabai-ibrahim-lobi-biography-and-life-story-in-hindi-2023-02-11 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=POPxo Power Women List 2024: Hirabai Ibrahim Lobi, The Woman With Grit & Grace |url=https://www.popxo.com/article/popxo-power-women-list-2024-hirabai-ibrahim-lobi/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=India's Largest Digital Community of Women {{!}} POPxo |language=en}}</ref> She was married at the age of 14.

She acquired knowledge from her surroundings, especially through the radio. Programs on organic fertilizer-making inspired her to implement these techniques in her community. She frequently visited the [[Gandhinagar]] Secretariat, seeking new information and understanding various schemes to improve the lives of her community members.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Watch: PM Modi bows to Padma Shri awardee Hirbai Ibrahim Lobi, who is she? |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/watch-pm-modi-bows-to-padma-shri-awardee-hirbai-ibrahim-lobi-who-is-she-101679540250475.html |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Hirabai focused on empowering women of the [[Siddi|Siddi community]]. In 2004, she founded the Mahila Vikas Foundation, which became a cornerstone for her initiatives to uplift women.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tahera |first=Khadeeja |date=2025-03-28 |title=कौन थीं हीराबाई इब्राहीम लोबी? |url=https://hindi.feminisminindia.com/2025/03/28/who-is-hirabai-ibrahim-lobi-profile-hindi/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=फेमिनिज़म इन इंडिया |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Death ==
Hirabai died on January 24, 2025 in her home at Jambur village in Gir Somnath district and is survived by her two sons and a daughter.<ref name=":0" />

== Awards ==

* [[Padma Shri]] (2023)
* Reliance Real Award
* [[Janaki Devi Bajaj|Janakidevi Prasad Bajaj Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Puraskar |first=Jankidevi Bajaj |date=2016-08-02 |title=TBI Blogs: How a 56-Year-Old Siddi Woman is Transforming Her Village, One Initiative at a Time |url=https://thebetterindia.com/63072/hirbaiben-lobi-imc-ladies-wing-jankidevi-bajaj-puraskar-2006/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lobi, Hirabai}}
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]
[[Category:People from Gir Somnath district]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
{{Authority control}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}{{India-bio-stub}}

Hirabai Lobi - Revision history

Ankushraj at 05:07, 7 October 2025