Awards & age are just a number, limitless and still aspiring as she reaches close to a century at 96 years this year. She is Hansa Balkrishna Mehta, social influencer par excellence, a visionary determined to change the complexion of many visually impaired & physically challenged sections of society. Having dedicated more than 62 years of her life to social service, she continues to inspire millions even today.

Her life is itself a story of dedication, overcoming challenges, a never-to-fail attitude, a pertinacious desire to transform, and strong intent to make a change in society. Her life is a living example of pristine charity, selfless service for the needy souls, a prayer in despair for the ones in need.

The Mother for thousands, whose ornate love has made hopeless lives blossom with full of fragrance. Her work speaks volumes about the influence she has created on the lives of many. “Sahayog Foundation Award” in 1993 was the beginning of many accolades that started coming in her illustrious journey.

Every year has been a year of felicitations, jubilations, and celebrations for the good work and contributions made by her, be it the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BLIND, presenting her with the award, the most sought after The Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award in 1996. The list is just endless.

Adding to her long list of recognition, she was recently awarded the DADA SAHEB PHALKE INTERNATIONAL MOTIVATIONAL AWARD 2024-25, as the “Extraordinary Social Activist of the Year”. She has indeed been a harbinger of social transformation, a mother to thousands, a teacher to those seeking hope & path of respectful living despite challenges.

Born with a silver spoon in her mouth to rich & well-to-do parents, she inherited values imparted by her parents to show kindness towards all. After her marriage to Shri Balbhai Mehta, she had to undergo the trauma of 4 miscarriages, which affected her body and soul. She very courageously accepted the God’s silent message that she was born to be the Mother for not a few children, but a loving and doting mother to thousands of needy ones. Her Uncle Shri Pranlal Sheth, also encouraged her to dedicate her life to social service and be a God’s messenger of love & care for the needy. And she did become one, an exceptional mother whose love & care transcends all boundaries of caste, creed, or color.

She very candidly shares the influence her grandmother Vijliba had upon her, during her formative years, which stood with her in good stead later in her social life. The exuberance and the energy she oozes even at this age are unmatched and very infectious. One cannot escape the optimism and keen sense of contributing to the worthy cause in her presence.

Hansaben, as she is lovingly called by many, has made a tremendous contribution towards the education of physically and visually impaired sections of society. The amount of work she has executed with her brilliance in philanthropy for the blind & physically challenged people is truly amazing & praiseworthy, but difficult to emulate for any person. Her work spans across many states in India including Maharashtra & Gujarat.

Her one experience inside a Blind school changed her perception about life and its struggles. When she observed that the walls of the blind school were all dull, colorless, walls that bore the vagaries of time and neglect, even though, blind couldn’t see them. She got the walls rebuilt, painted with white color, which changed the ambiance and the lives of those blind children once for all. Such sensitivity is hard to find in the current materialistic world. As time passed, Hansaben got neck-deep into social service, never to look back again.

Hansaben Mehta is also an avid sports lover. She has also supported the cause of visually impaired in sporting and strongly believes in ensuring that blind as well as physically challenged people should also be given equal opportunity to further their careers in the sporting arena.

She has also recently been awarded with Asia’s Top 100 Influential Women Award 2024 for being the harbinger of social transformation. Her message to the younger generation is to give back to the society, especially the challenged sections of the society. Only then, shall this world be a peaceful & respectful place for all.