Dr. Martha Farrell passed away in 2015. Many people expressed their condolences and shared memories of Dr. Farrell, remembering her as an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to service, love, compassion, and excellence. She was praised for her courageous work on gender issues and as a leader at PRIA. Her passing was a great loss for her family and community.

1. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)

2. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
“I am really saddened to
know about the sudden
demise of Dr Martha Farrell.
She was an extraordinary
woman. There are many in
the community who will
mourn deeply her passing as
she was a life of service, love,
compassion and excellence.
May her soul rest in peace.”
RITU SHARMA
Chairperson
Sexual Harassment Prevention
Committee-Northern Region
Airports Authority of India

3. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
“We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our dearest Working Committee
Member and a very courageous personality Dr Martha Farrell, Director, PRIA. We
extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to her family. May god rest her soul in
peace!”
PRAYAS Family
Our hearts go out to Rajesh, his family and all of PRIA colleagues for the loss of dear
friend and leader, Martha Farrell. Our friends here at IDS, as well as other colleagues
around the world and shocked and saddened to learn of this news. She was a
wonderful leader, educator, gender advocate, mother, partner and friend to many,
many people around the world. She will be missed on so many levels, and by a global
network. Personally from Juliet Merrifield and I, as well as from all of the staff here at
IDS, we send our deepest condolences and prayers.
John Gaventa

4. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
Most recently Martha was working closely with a group of us in AAP SHAKTI to
finalize guidelines and a draft framework on a committee for Sexual Harassment
within AAP. We will hopefully implement this as a tribute to Martha.....
And it was Martha with Feisal Alkazi, who helped develop the training module on
gender sensitisation for,the Indian Navy when we first inducted women into the
service.
Oh Martha.....we had plans that you would finally come to Ramu Farm and pick
mangoes from the trees this summer. But you went the way you lived.....ever ready
for the unexpected.....unafraid and gutsy
Lalita Ramdas

5. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
George Cherian, CUTS International

6. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
Dear PRIA family,
Please extend the deepest
condolences from Darlene and
myself at the tragic death of
Martha-Ji. We will be with you
in spirit on Sunday at the prayer
service. So many friends of
Martha and Rajesh in Victoria,
Canada and elsewhere in the
world share our collective grief
at this senseless loss.
With love,
Budd and Darlene

7. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
Suneeta Dhar
Namrata Jaitli
Aparna
We sadly remorse the sudden death of Dr Martha Farrell.
Please here accept our condolence and give strength to the
family to bear the loss.
Shagufta Khan &
Staff of Gharib Nawaz Samiti
Ajmer
I have learned the
terrible news. Please
accept my sincere
condolences for the loss
of our friend and
colleague, Martha. What
a tragic loss. It must be
so very difficult for
everyone in the PRIA
family and words seem
inadequate to express
myself. Please convey my
sadness at the loss of this
incredible woman and
inspiring force in
combatting violence. I
will miss her greatly.
Catherine

8. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
Dinesh Sharma
Voluntary Action Network
India
Tulika Srivastava
We are very shocked
hear about inhuman
attack and death of Ms.
Martha in Afghanistan.
Please accept our
condolence. We are
with you all. We wish Dr
Tandon will get enough
strength to face this
situation.
Bhim Raskar on behalf
of Trustees, RSCD &
MRA Team

9. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
Sonia Elzbieta
WAVE – Women & Girls Education & Training in Australia
Extremely sorry to hear
about the sad demise of
Ms Martha. The vacuum
created by her absence
will remain for ever. May
all those who cared for
her and PRIA, have
enough strength to live
with the loss. My deepest
condolences with Dr
Tandon and Family and
PRIA.
Dr. Sanghmitra Sheel
Acharya
Indian Institute of Dalit
Studies (IIDS)
Sad to know about the tragic and unfortunate end of a great social
worker. May Dr Martha’s soul rest in peace, and may God give strength
to Dr Rajesh Tandon and his family to bear this loss.
Pradeep Ghosh

10. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)

11. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
परम प्रिय आदरणीय स्वर्गीय मार्ाा जी को समप्रपात एक ग़ज़ल
बुझ र्गए चिरार्ग-ऐ-ददल ,तेरी नज़र क्या बुझ र्गयी ,
अँधेरे से घने बढ़ र्गए हैं जजिंदर्गानी में अब .
फू ल िमन के मुरझा र्गए वो फु ल सा िेहरा मुरझा र्गया,
बहार की र्गैर-मौजूदर्गी में खिजा का डेरा है अब.
तेरी आवाज़ में जजिंदर्गी की रवानी र्ी ,एक मरकज़ र्ी तुम,
साज़ -ऐ-ददल ने , हसरतों ने हमसे मुिंह फे रा है अब.
िाक में ममल र्गयी िाक इस तरह ,या िुदा !
बहलाना होर्गा िुद को तेरी यादों से अब
अनु
Dear Rajesh
Please accept my and
Abhivyakti's heartfelt
condolences for this deep
personal loss. May fond
memories and Martha's
commitment to gender justice
and her courageous spirit fill
the void that she has left
behind in her passing.
Rest in peace Martha!
~Nitin Paranjape
She set the bar very high: as a development professional, a mother,
a warm human being and someone who wouldn't budge from her
principles. We learnt a lot from her and her outlook on life. I will
always have wonderful memories of our many conversations, our
laughter….The world will indeed be a lesser place.
Sujana Krishnamoorthy

12. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
Dear Rajesh bhai,
Prakash and I were shocked to read the sad news in one of the social media sites this morning as I could not believe it then started to
dig on and gone even more panic as they were confirming the truth . This is so tragic, Martha's sudden and unexpected passing away
must be heartbreaking and devastating to you and children.
Words fall short when I try to express the sorrow I feel knowing that you are bearing a loss so profound. They say the most painful
goodbyes are the ones that are never said and explained, and as we try to cope with such a loss we find it difficult to see beyond the
grief. However, know that even in silence, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May you find strength to handle this
grief, the courage to face this irreparable loss in the constant love of friends and family.
Martha was a lovely friend, a mighty strong woman leader , always very focused and determined. Martha was passionate about her
work and she was a visionary mentor to her team. Her presence will be immensely missed. The PRIA premises will feel empty without
her voice echoing in the corridors and her smile greeting us all.
Dear Rajesh, Suheil and Tarika please accept our heartfelt condolences. May God give you the strength to accept the truth and go
through the positive grieving process. May the departed should rest in peace.
With lots of love, remembrance and much power to you,
Saloni, Prakash, Pranjali and Surabhi

13. Dr Martha Farrell
(1959-2015)
Shaleen Rakesh
My colleagues and I at the Centre for Women’s Development Studies deeply
mourn the death of Dr. Martha Farrell, who lived and sacrificed her life for
gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Indu Agnihotri
Director, CWDS