Her identity once excluded her—today, it shapes the work she leads across borders.
When Dr Sonajharia Minz was just five years old, she heard she was not welcome in a school, not because she wasn’t smart, but because of who she was. That was the reality for Dr Minz, a tribal girl from Gumla, Jharkhand, turned computer science professor, and now India’s first tribal UNESCO Co-Chair.
This isn’t just a personal achievement. It’s a historic moment for millions of indigenous and marginalised voices in India and across the world.
A Life of Firsts
In June 2025, Dr. Minz was appointed as the UNESCO Co-Chair for Indigenous Knowledge, Research, Governance (IKRG) and Transformative Reconciliation. She will co-lead this global effort with Dr. Amy Parent of Canada’s Nisga’a Nation. Together, they’ll work to uplift indigenous communities, promote self-determination, restore stolen heritage, and create ethical, community-led research models.
With this appointment, Dr. Minz becomes:
- The first tribal person from India to hold a UNESCO Chair
- The first tribal woman Vice-Chancellor of Sidho Kanho Murmu University
- A symbol of what’s possible when resilience meets opportunity
Rejection that changed her life
Born in 1962, Dr Sonajharia Minz grew up speaking Kurukh, the language of the Oraon community. Despite being fluent in English, she was denied admission to an English-medium school because of her Adivasi background and because her father was a Protestant pastor, unwelcome at a Catholic-run school.
“I didn’t know discrimination, but I felt deprivation,” she recalls. That moment left a scar, but also a fire. She resolved to prove her worth not through anger, but through action.
She found her refuge in mathematics, a language that didn’t discriminate. “I loved math because I didn’t need Hindi for it,” she says. Even when a teacher once told her, “You won’t be able to do this,” she turned that doubt into fuel—and scored 100%.
Minz’s Family Rooted in Education
Dr. Minz’s father, Lutheran Bishop Nirmal Minz, held a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Chicago and founded Gossner College in Ranchi. So for Dr. Minz, education was not a luxury—it was a legacy. Her sisters became a doctor, a pastor, and a public health official.
Though caste bias and economic challenges shadowed her early schooling, she persisted. After earning a Master’s in Math and a PhD in Computer Science from JNU, she returned as a professor, where she would remain for over 30 years.
Leadership with Purpose
In 2020, Dr Sonajharia Minz was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Sidho Kanho Murmu University in Jharkhand. There, she prioritised inclusion by launching tribal language programs, tribal studies, and traditional art courses.
During her tenure as President of the JNU Teachers’ Association, she fearlessly advocated for marginalised students and staff, even in politically polarised environments. “She never shied away from speaking truth to power,” says her colleague, Neelima Mondal.
And it wasn’t just about titles. She led with humility, grace, and a fierce sense of justice.
“You cannot shy away from delivering justice,” Dr. Minz once said. “I see my role as that of an enabler.”
What Her UNESCO Role Means
As UNESCO Co-Chair, Dr. Minz will help:
- Return stolen cultural artefacts to the rightful communities
- Reclaim indigenous knowledge systems
- Revitalise endangered tribal languages
- Build models of decolonised, indigenous-led research
She doesn’t just represent India. She represents every girl who was once made to feel “less than” because of where she came from.
Why We Chose Her
At Work Well Womaniya, we celebrate women who rise, not just for themselves but for their entire community. Dr. Sonajharia Minz is our Woman of the Week because she proves that no identity—tribal, rural, female—can limit greatness.
She’s not just breaking glass ceilings. She’s building bridges for others to cross.
To every woman out there doubting if she belongs—Dr. Minz is your answer. You do. Not only that, you can lead.