Hirabai Ibrahim Lobi (1960 – 24 January 2025) was an Indian tribal leader and social worker from Gujarat,[1] known for her tireless efforts to uplift the Siddi tribal community.[2][3] She was awarded thePadma Shri in 2023,[4] one of India's highest civilian honors, for her contributions to social work.[5][6]
She resided in Jambur village, located in theTalala tehsil of theGir Somnath district inGujarat.[7] As a member of theSiddi community, which has African roots, Hirabai experienced the loss of her parents during her early years and was subsequently raised by her grandmother.[8][9] 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 theGandhinagar Secretariat, seeking new information and understanding various schemes to improve the lives of her community members.[10] Hirabai focused on empowering women of theSiddi community. In 2004, she founded the Mahila Vikas Foundation, which became a cornerstone for her initiatives to uplift women.[11]
