Who is Navi Pillay, Indian-origin Tamil South African jurist who won Nobel Peace

The daughter of a Durban bus driver, Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay's journey to winning the prestigious 2026 Nobel Peace Prize began in apartheid-era South Africa.Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace PrizeNew Delhi,Oct 9, 2026 15:26 ISTShe was once banned from entering the chambers of judges in South Africa because of her skin colour. However, Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay did not allow it to affect her legal career as she went on to become the first non-white woman judge of the High Court of South Africa. On Friday, the Indian-origin Pillay, who is of Tamil descent, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to "promote peace and international law".The former United Nations Human Rights chief is known for her tireless efforts in defending anti-apartheid activists in South Africa and helping prosecute the perpetrators of genocide in Rwanda. The daughter of a Durban bus driver, her journey to winning the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize began in apartheid-era South Africa.WHO IS NAVI PILLAY?Born to parents of Indian Tamil descent, Pillay rose from a community that faced racial and economic barriers to becoming a leading figure in international law.Apart from serving as a judge on the High Court in South Africa, her distinguished career includes stints in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court. She also served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014. Despite the challenges faced by the blacks during the apartheid era, Pillay completed her education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963 from the University of Natal. Two years later, she earned a law degree. She went on to complete her doctorate from Harvard University. In 1967, she became the first woman of colour to open her own law firm in Natal. From a small office, Pillay defended people persecuted by the state and challenged the discriminatory legal system. - Ends