Armaity Desai: TISS director who gave India Childline 1098, redefined social work education

Farida Lambay

I still remember the very first time I saw Miss Desai. She walked into the classroom in a crisp blue Kota saree, a string of elegant pearls around her neck, and delicate gold-and-pearl earrings — the same pair she wore all through her life. In her hand were several files and notes. She carried herself with quiet dignity and unmistakable presence. That day, she began her lecture on research methodology. Her clarity of thought, sharpness, and poise left a lasting impression on me. Before ending the class, she looked up and said matter-of-factly, “We have ten minutes for clarifications.” It was my first glimpse of the woman who would shape my professional and personal journey for the next 52 years.

Her subject — field instruction and curriculum construction — remains fresh in my mind even today. Those lectures were not just about concepts; they were about building a way of thinking. Later in my career, I began teaching these same subjects — education, learning, and training for the trainers. Much of who I became as a teacher was shaped in those classrooms with her.

From her, I learnt the importance of good listening, empathy, and respecting learners. She taught us to start at the pace of the learner, to acknowledge the learner’s presence and perspective, and above all, to be relevant.

Desai didn’t like the phrase curriculum construction. She felt the word construction implied something static and fixed. She preferred to call it curriculum development, because for her, education was dynamic, alive, and must respond to changing social reality. That subtle shift in language reflected her larger vision — education must evolve if it is to truly empower.

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She also played a pivotal role in launching the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and ensuring its recognition as an undergraduate course — the first of its kind in India. She worked with both her head and heart. As an administrator, she led with clarity and discipline, but she also had an unmistakably humane approach. She listened deeply, cared genuinely, and believed leadership must be anchored in empathy as much as in vision.

Nirmala Niketan, ICDS initiatives

At the college [Nirmala Niketan], Desai was a force of innovation and action. She believed education must be rooted in real-world practice and policy. She was instrumental in forging a pioneering partnership with the government on the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme — long before such collaborations became common.

She founded the School Social Work programme in the college — a visionary initiative that grew far beyond the campus. What began as a fieldwork placement became a structured model for intervention in municipal schools and ultimately influenced the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC) to adopt it as a policy and scheme. Generations of children benefited from that pioneering vision, and the model remains a benchmark for community engagement in education.

Desai started several Field Action Projects with her conviction that social work cannot be taught in the classroom alone but we as faculty, students and social work educators must be in touch with social realities. Many of the projects such as YUVA, a project started in college, became independent organisations and are today known for their contribution in the social sector.

She started Childline, a helpline scheme, which became a central government scheme for Child protection and she was responsible to make 1098 a household number so that any child could dial in if in difficulty.

I had the privilege of getting Desai as one of the founder trustees of Pratham at its inception in 1995. Desai's vision and her clarity on strategies contributed to strengthen a firm foundation for Pratham which is now 31 years old.

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She was an icon in the social work field and was bestowed with several national and international awards. She left no opportunity to demonstrate the role of social work practitioners in effecting change.

‘No’ was never an answer

Desai could never take “no” for an answer. Challenges never intimidated her — they energised her. She always had a solution, however difficult the situation seemed. For her, “impossible” was simply not a word worth using. She stood firmly for equality and equity. She could speak to anyone — from a support staff member to someone in the highest position of authority — with the same warmth, ease and respect.

Desai will be always remembered as humble, smiling and approachable.

She also fought fiercely for her principles. She had the courage to speak up when something was unfair and never looked the other way. I remember countless occasions when she would get out of the vehicle to correct someone who had thrown trash on the road or ask why a shopkeeper was overcharging.

Once, we were in a restaurant together and discovered that they had two separate menus — one for the air-conditioned section and another for non-AC – with different prices. She spent a good 15 minutes engaging the staff in a calm but firm conversation on why this was discriminatory and unacceptable.

She was absolutely right — and she made her point clearly — though I must admit I sat there slightly embarrassed at the time. Looking back, those moments taught me what standing up for what is right truly means.

Girl education, TISS, Nirmala Niketan

She was a tireless crusader for girls’ education, long before it became a mainstream development agenda. She firmly believed that education was the most powerful tool to transform a girl’s life and, through her, the life of an entire family and community. She also believed that higher education must connect with primary education, because real change begins at the foundation. She often said, “If the foundation is strong, we will have a strong India.” She was convinced that universities and colleges must not remain ivory towers — they must engage with schools, with communities, and with children at the margins.

This article would be incomplete without acknowledging Desai’s extraordinary leadership in mitigating some of India’s major crises. One of the most significant moments was during the 1992 Mumbai riots, when she was director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

At her initiative, College of Social Work Nirmala Niketan joined hands with TISS to support rehabilitation efforts. One of my most memorable experiences was accompanying her to meet none other than JRD Tata, who had invited Desai to discuss the rehabilitation plan. She could easily have gone alone, but true to her leadership style, she ensured that young faculty like me were part of the conversation. I was awestruck to meet and speak in the presence of Mr. Tata, but even more inspired by Desai’s clarity, articulation, and ability to represent both institutions with dignity and strength. That day, I learnt the true meaning of building trust, teamwork, and shared ownership.

Our paths crossed again in the aftermath of the 1994 Latur earthquake. Desai once again played a pivotal role in mobilising institutions, government agencies, and communities. Her leadership during those critical months demonstrated how academic institutions can stand shoulder to shoulder with affected communities, ensuring that compassion and action go hand in hand.

What I did not learn in books, I learnt from observing Desai. I remember she always told us that what is taught is not always caught and what is caught is not always taught.

As a professional, I learnt so much from her. The ability to multitask, to take risks, to manage crises with calm, to listen deeply, and to deal with difficult situations — these are skills I carry because of her. She taught me the importance of teamwork, of standing together, and of collective ownership. Her constant refrain was “We did it,” never “I did it”.

She lived by the principle that “you can work 24×7 — because when you love what you do, work is fun”. She didn’t just say it — she lived it. Her energy was infectious, her commitment unwavering, and her sense of purpose, inspiring.

A silent changemaker

Desai’s impact was felt most powerfully in the everyday moments. I still remember how I learnt to write under her watchful eye. Whenever I submitted a draft, she would return it covered in her comments written in different coloured pens — each correction clear, precise, and thoughtful. She didn’t just fix mistakes; she made sure I understood why they mattered. Those coloured marks were lessons in rigour, clarity, and never settling for less than your best.

Her involvement in my life went far beyond the classroom. She took a genuine interest in my growth — both professional and personal. When my husband proposed to me, she insisted on meeting him. In fact, she interviewed him herself, and only after her quiet but clear approval did I feel free to say yes. It may sound old-fashioned to some, but to me, it was an expression of love and deep trust. She wasn’t just a mentor; she was family.

Even in her last year, when she was in and out of the hospital, her spirit remained unshaken. The hospital staff were in awe of her — she knew every medication, its purpose, its use, and often surprised the doctors with her sharp memory and clarity. She was alert, strong-willed, and as always, fully engaged with life.

She had a fondness for savoury food and never lost that mischievous spark. Once in a while, I would get a message from her saying she was craving sev puri — her favourite. And of course, I was more than happy to send it over. Those little moments — light, simple, and full of warmth — are etched deeply in my heart. They remind me that even in frailty, she carried dignity, grace, and joy.

She often told us, “You cannot serve people from behind a desk. You must walk with them”. I carry those words with me, as I have carried her guidance for more than half a century.

She truly lived the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”. She was not just a teacher or administrator — she was a changemaker who quietly built lasting systems.

And as Lao Tzu said, “A leader is best when people barely know she exists. When her work is done, her aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”

A life of courage, conviction, impact

On 27 September, I stood beside her bed as she breathed her last. At 91, she had lived a life of courage, conviction, and extraordinary impact. My relationship with her began as a hesitant student, and over time, she became my mentor, critic, guide, and friend. She called me her “professional daughter” and later, her “adopted daughter”. That bond shaped not only my career but who I became as a person. That was not just an endearment; it was a responsibility. Desai gave me, and so many others, the strength to dream, to act, to believe. She didn’t just teach me how to work — she taught me how to stand tall, how to care deeply, and how to never give up.

Her voice will always be in my ear, her values in my heart, and her legacy in my actions. Her story does not end with her passing — it lives on in the people she touched, the movements she built, and the principles she stood for.

To carry her legacy forward is my honour.

Farida Lambay is the former vice-principal, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan and co-founder of Pratham Education Foundation.