Actor, director, and activist Nandita Das has paid a heartfelt tribute to feminist icon Gloria Steinem, saying her passing felt like 'the end of an era.' Das shared the tribute on her Instagram page, reflecting on Steinem's decades-long impact on women's rights and her personal connection to the legendary activist.

A Pioneer Who Changed the Conversation

In her tribute, Das wrote: 'Gloria Steinem's passing feels like the end of an era. Long before feminism became part of everyday conversation, Gloria, as a journalist, writer and activist, was asking uncomfortable questions, challenging power, and insisting that women deserve to be heard, respected and treated as equals.'

Das noted that Steinem had fundamentally shifted the discourse on gender equality for multiple generations, at a time when such conversations were far from mainstream.

A Personal Connection Spanning Two Decades

Das recalled first meeting Steinem nearly two decades ago, and then again more recently. 'Two years ago, I had the privilege of spending an evening with her at my dear friend Dr. Azra Raza's home in New York,' she wrote. The occasion was a reading for author and activist Ruchira Gupta's book.

At that meeting, Das said she told Steinem directly: 'You are one of my heroes. You have opened so many doors for us women.' She described the encounter as a rare opportunity to meet someone she had admired since childhood, noting that Steinem was 'warm, sharp, thoughtful, utterly unpretentious, and as interested in listening as in speaking.'

Gloria Steinem's Deep Ties to India

Das also highlighted a lesser-known chapter of Steinem's life — her formative connection with India. In her twenties, Steinem reportedly spent nearly two years in the country, travelling widely and learning from grassroots movements. 'She often said those years shaped the way she saw the world,' Das recalled.

This detail, Das suggested, resonated deeply with her own belief that immersing oneself in unfamiliar places and experiences is among the most powerful forms of learning.

A Life Lived With Purpose

Concluding her tribute, Das reflected on the breadth of Steinem's 92-year life. 'She helped people believe that another world was possible,' Das wrote, signing off with: 'Rest in knowing you made a difference. Thank you, Gloria.'

Steinem's passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes globally, with figures from activism, journalism, and the arts marking the loss of a woman widely regarded as the defining voice of second-wave feminism. For Das — herself a vocal advocate for gender equality and social justice — the tribute is both personal and political.