MartiAshley1795 at 07:42, 23 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian architect and designer (1923–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gira Sarabhai
| image = Gira Sarabhai Ahmedabad 1951.jpg
| caption = Gira Sarabhai in 1951
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|12|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Ahmedabad]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|7|15|1923|12|11|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], India
| occupation = Designer, curator, entrepreneur
| known_for = [[National Institute of Design]], [[Calico Museum of Textiles]], [[Calico Dome]], B. M. Institute of Mental Health
| notable_works =
| movement = [[Modernism]]
| father = [[Ambalal Sarabhai]]
| mother = Saraladevi Sarabhai
| relatives = [[Gautam Sarabhai]] (brother)<br>[[Vikram Sarabhai]] (brother)<br>[[Gita Sarabhai]] Mayor (sister)<br>[[Anasuya Sarabhai]] (aunt)<br>[[Mrinalini Sarabhai]] (sister-in-law)
}}

'''Gira Sarabhai''' (11 December 1923 – 15 July 2021) was an Indian architect, designer, and a design pedagogue. She was born into the [[Sarabhai family]] and was the youngest of eight siblings. She is known for contributing to several industrial and educational projects in [[Gujarat]]. She was the representative of the Sarabhai Foundation, a public charitable trust.<ref name="Sarabhai Foundation - Theft Case; The Hindu">{{Cite news|last=Imranullah|first=Mohamed|date=14 August 2018|title=Vikram Sarabhai's sister wants idol theft case quashed|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/vikram-sarabhais-sister-wants-idol-theft-case-quashed/article24682898.ece|access-date=19 March 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109033001/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/vikram-sarabhais-sister-wants-idol-theft-case-quashed/article24682898.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Gira, along with her brother [[Gautam Sarabhai]] were crucial in establishing and designing the academic curricula of [[National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad]].

== Early life ==
[[File:This luncheon group photo with several members of the Sarabhai family. Baroda, 1951.jpg|thumb|300px|Gira Sarabhai, sitting, extreme right, along with her father [[Ambalal Sarabhai]] 3rd seat from the right, sister [[Gita Sarabhai|Gita Mayor]] sitting on the extreme left and their brother [[Vikram Sarabhai]], seated, 4th from the left.|left]]
Gira Sarabhai was born on 11 December 1923 to industrialist [[Ambalal Sarabhai]] and Reva (later renamed as Saraladevi Sarabhai) in [[Ahmedabad]] and was the youngest of their eight children. She was home schooled along with her siblings, and never had a formal education. In her late teens, she moved to New York with her family. In the United States she went on to train with [[Frank Lloyd Wright]] at his [[Taliesin West|Taliesin West Studio]] in [[Arizona]] from 1947 to 1951.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=National Institute of Design|title=50 Years of the National Institute of Design, 1961-2011|publisher=Research and Publications, National Institute of Design|year=2013|isbn=978-81-86199-71-8|location=Ahmedabad|pages=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhagat |first=Shalini Venugopal |date=2021-09-23 |title=Gira Sarabhai, Designer Who Helped Shape Modern India, Dies at 97 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/world/asia/gira-sarabhai-dead.html |access-date=2022-06-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Career ==
Gira and her brother, [[Gautam Sarabhai]] worked together in [[Calico Mills]], and also in several other architecture and design projects.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Desai|first=Madhavi|title=Women Architects and Modernism In India|publisher=Routledge|year=2017|isbn=978-1-138-28142-4|pages=59–63}}</ref> She also started Shilpi, a graphic design agency which was the first Indian based advertising agency.<ref name=":0" />

Gira along with her brother Gautam made significant contributions to modern architecture in India, during 1950s and 1960s. Their work was highly influenced by [[Frank Lloyd Wright]].<ref name=":0" /> They sought to create an architectural response to regional concerns by using local materials. They were instrumental in inviting [[Charles and Ray Eames]], [[Buckminster Fuller]], [[Louis Kahn]], and [[Fred Otto|Frei Otto]] to [[Ahmedabad]] in order for those architectural and design luminaries to develop architecture and design education in India. They contributed prominently to the setting up of several leading national institutes in Ahmedabad, such as the [[National Institute of Design]],<ref name=":1" /> [[Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad]], and B. M. Institute of Mental Health.<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Calico Museum of Textiles, Ahmedabad, 1952.jpg|thumb|The Calico Museum of Textiles, as it appeared in its original location at the Calico Mills. (Annotated by Nathan Hughes Hamilton)]]
In 1949, Sarabhai established, designed the building, and curated the [[Calico Museum of Textiles]] which houses a historic collection of Indian fabrics. It is also a centre for design knowledge, resources, research, and publication.<ref name=":0" /> From 1951 to 1955, as [[Le Corbusier]] worked on the design of [[Villa Sarabhai]], he consulted with Gira Sarabhai.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ubbelohde|first=Susan|date=2003|title=The Dance of a Summer Day: Le Corbusier's Sarabhai House in Ahmedabad, India|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41758019|journal=Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review|volume=14|issue=2|pages=65–80|jstor=41758019|issn=1050-2092|access-date=19 March 2021|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506053309/https://www.jstor.org/stable/41758019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gira and Gautam worked in collaboration with Fuller to develop the experimental [[Calico Dome]]. It was the first space frame structure in India, which lays collapsed.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=29 December 2020|title=Explained: The signature of Kahn and other foreign architects on Indian cities|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/louis-kahn-iim-foreign-architects-7123871/|access-date=24 March 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119053053/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/louis-kahn-iim-foreign-architects-7123871/|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2019, the dome is being reconstructed by the [[Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation]] as a heritage site.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gujarat: Nine years on, no progress on Calico Dome|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/nine-years-on-no-progress-on-calico-dome/articleshow/70709009.cms|access-date=26 March 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506053322/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/nine-years-on-no-progress-on-calico-dome/articleshow/70709009.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

Towards the later years of her career she started experimenting with traditional Indian forms, elements, and motifs for her contemporary work.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhagat |first=Shalini Venugopal |date=2021-09-23 |title=Gira Sarabhai, Designer Who Helped Shape Modern India, Dies at 97 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/world/asia/gira-sarabhai-dead.html |access-date=2022-03-14 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== National Institute of Design ===
Gira, along with Gautam, had been crucial in establishing the National Institute of Design at Ahmedabad (NID) in the 1960s.<ref name="The timing was fortunate - The Hindu"/> They organized regular consultations at [[Sanskar Kendra|Sanskar Kendra Museum]], with experts such as [[Dashrath Patel]], [[James Prestini]], and Vikram Sarabhai, to brainstorm on the academic model for the institute.<ref name="The timing was fortunate - The Hindu">{{Cite news|last=Lautman|first=Victoria|date=20 April 2013|title=The timing was fortunate|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/the-timing-was-fortunate/article4633621.ece|access-date=20 March 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506104924/https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/the-timing-was-fortunate/article4633621.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Under the mentorship of Gira and Gautam, the first cohort of designers trained in India graduated.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Design education in India: An experiment in modernity|url=https://www.stirworld.com/think-opinions-design-education-in-india-an-experiment-in-modernity|access-date=19 March 2021|website=Stir World|language=English|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506053304/https://www.stirworld.com/think-opinions-design-education-in-india-an-experiment-in-modernity|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sarabhai was also instrumental in designing the main NID building. Kurma Rao, design consultant, educator, and alumni of NID Textile design department, gives Gira Sarabhai credit in shaping the Textile Design Program at NID. She would visit the institute, observe the students and give valuable feedback and make sure the students have full access to the Calico Museum, a privilege not extended to others.<ref name=":1" />

Gira Sarabhai was also instrumental in selecting a wide selection of books, magazines, periodicals from audio-visual material for NID's library (now known as Knowledge Management Centre).<ref>{{Cite web|last=world|first=STIR|title=Gira Sarabhai and her contribution to the creation of an Indian identity|url=https://www.stirworld.com/think-opinions-gira-sarabhai-and-her-contribution-to-the-creation-of-an-indian-identity|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.stirworld.com|language=English|archive-date=11 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111170430/https://www.stirworld.com/think-opinions-gira-sarabhai-and-her-contribution-to-the-creation-of-an-indian-identity|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1964, Gira Sarabhai invited [[George Nakashima]] to the institute, where he designed various furniture articles.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kachru|first=Tanishka|title=Nakashima at NID|publisher=NID Press|year=2017|isbn=978-81-86199-87-9|location=Ahmedabad|pages=4}}</ref> Until Sarabhai stepped down in 1975, production of the designs continued based on the drawings and instructions by Nakashima.<ref>{{Cite web|title=George Nakashima's iconic grass-seated chairs up for auction at Saffronart|url=https://www.theweek.in/leisure/lifestyle/2018/08/08/george-nakashima-exquisite-grass-seated-chairs-display-nid.html|access-date=19 March 2021|website=The Week|language=en|last=Bhura|first=Sneha|date=8 August 2018|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506053322/https://www.theweek.in/leisure/lifestyle/2018/08/08/george-nakashima-exquisite-grass-seated-chairs-display-nid.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Sarabhai invited several people from the [[Royal College of Art]] in London to serve as consultants for NID.<ref name=":1" />

Students at NID recalled that she emphasised discipline and attention to detail in her work.<ref name=":1" />

==Death==
Sarabhai died on 15 July 2021 at her residence in [[Shahibaug]], Ahmedabad.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-15|title=Gira Sarabhai, co-founder of NID, passes away at 98|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/gira-sarabhai-co-founder-of-nid-passes-away-at-98/article35351121.ece|access-date=2021-07-17|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716023648/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/gira-sarabhai-co-founder-of-nid-passes-away-at-98/article35351121.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shastri |first1=Parth |title=Gira Sarabhai: Founder of National Institute of Design, Gira Sarabhai, passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/founder-of-national-institute-of-design-gira-sarabhai-passes-away/articleshow/84461373.cms |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=16 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Sarabhai family]]
*[[Achyut Kanvinde]]

== References ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarabhai, Gira}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian women designers]]
[[Category:Indian women architects]]
[[Category:Sarabhai family]]
[[Category:Artists from Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:Modernist architects]]
[[Category:Designers at National Institute of Design]]
[[Category:Indian women artists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian designers]]

Gira Sarabhai - Revision history

MartiAshley1795 at 07:42, 23 February 2026