Sangita Jindal Wiki, Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More

Sangita Jindal has actively contributed to various initiatives, including the Mission Hazaar Campaign which is a program for infant and maternal health adopted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the “Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao” campaign. Sangita has spoken about her commitment to helping empower women in several interviews. Her influence is recognised internationally, and she has been invited to chair the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles Initiative in India, due to the work she has done to advance gender equality. Sangita has also played a vital role in environmental protection by promoting and institutionalising the Earth Care Awards.

Sangita Jindal (left) at the 2019 Earth Care Awards

In 1994, Sangita set up the Jindal Arts Centre, which led to India’s first magazine dedicated to contemporary art, Art India. Speaking of Art India, Sangita has said,

It has created a forum for inspired interaction between artists, critics, historians, architects, writers and collectors, and has had a definitive impact on the community. With Art India Education, we hope to invite students and teachers to participate in the process of continuous learning, an ideal I firmly believe in. Our new initiative hopes to make learning about modern and contemporary art a more buoyant experience—one that is enjoyable and illuminating in equal measure.”

Sangita has also served as the chairperson of the Kala Ghoda Festival from 2000 to 2003, contributing significantly to the promotion of art and culture. Sangita also helped with the restoration of the David Sassoon Library and Reading Room in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.

Sangita Jindal (third from left) at the restored David Sassoon Library and Reading Room in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai

In addition to her work with the JSW Foundation, Sangita established the Hampi Foundation in 2000, dedicated to the conservation of three temples in Hampi. In an interview, she revealed that she first went to Hampi in 1983, and said,

My husband and I were going to build a plant near Karnataka and while we were there, there wasn’t much work for me to do. So, I asked if there were any temples nearby that I could visit. I went and I was so fascinated with this whole realm to Hampi. The people told me there was a foreigner [author George Michell] who also there who was trying to improve Hampi. So I decided to meet him. He asked ‘Why have you come here? Do you know anything about Hampi?’ When I said no, he gave me a book to read and finally when he realised I had the perseverance, we spoke about how we could all help restore Hampi. And we haven’t looked back since.” ^[1]JSW Group

Furthermore, Sangita has been invited to be part of the India advisory board of the Prince’s Charities, the philanthropy of the Prince of Wales, and nominated as a member of the council of the National Culture Fund. Sangita is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Monuments Fund’s India Chapter, the Tate International Council, and the UN Women Business Sector Advisory Council. Sangita has been involved in civic projects within Mumbai (for example, the restoration of the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue). Reflecting on her journey, Sangita shared memories of her early days in Mumbai, where she visited J. J. Bhabha (one of the founding fathers of the Tata Central Archives and founder of the National Centre for the Performing Arts) for guidance. He then became her mentor. Despite lacking formal qualifications, her enthusiasm and desire to learn led to a fruitful collaboration for two years.

Sangita Jindal with her mentor Dr. J. J. Bhabha

In Salem, she allocated funds for the renovation of an 800-year-old temple, due to her dedication to heritage preservation.

In 2011, Sangita Jindal had to pay a fine and penalty exceeding Rs 10 lakh for transporting undeclared diamond jewellery and other imported valuables valued at Rs 60 lakh upon her return from an overseas trip in October 2010. Customs authorities at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport reported that when Sangita Jindal arrived at the airport, she was carrying goods bought in London worth Rs 21 lakh and undeclared jewellery worth Rs 39 lakh that she had taken from India. A Customs officer noted,

Ideally, Sangita should have declared the jewellery when she left for London to obtain an export certificate. But she did not do so. On returning too, the jewelry was not declared. Over and above that, she also bought additional valuables worth Rs 21 lakh for which no duty was paid.”

P. M. Govande, a Customs Commissioner, stated,

Sangita Jindal’s case has now been adjudicated, and she has been fined and penalized according to the Customs rules and regulations.”

In her statement to Customs, Sangita acknowledged her error, citing ignorance for not declaring her goods and jewellery. The customs officers stated that the confiscated jewellery would be returned to her upon payment of the fine and penalty. ^[2]Bangalore Mirror