Former UN human rights chief Navaneetham ‘Navi’ Pillai’s connection with her native village Batalagundu in Tamil Nadu began with an old photograph and her father’s last wish. Nearly two decades ago, he had visited his ancestral village with a resolve to fulfill his father’s wish.
New Delhi: Navi Pillai’s relatives celebrated the news of her winning the Nobel Peace Prize in Batalagundu village in Tamil Nadu. Nearly two decades ago, Pillai reached out to her ancestral family with the help of an old photograph and an incomplete address. Now the family is preparing to invite him to come to India. The news of Navaneetham ‘Navi’ Pillai, known for her contribution in the field of international human rights and justice, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 has created an atmosphere of joy in Batalagundu village in Tamil Nadu.
His relatives celebrated this achievement and hoped for his return to India. For the family, this honor is not only an international achievement, but also an opportunity to remember their relationship and shared family history.
Navi Pillai’s connection to her ancestral village stems from an old photograph and her father’s last wish. Nearly two decades ago, she came to India to trace her family roots. At that time, he had a photograph given by his father and an incomplete address, with the help of which he tried to find his Indian relatives.
Navi Pillai came to India to fulfill her father’s last wish.
According to close family member M. Venkatesh Kumar, Navi Pillai’s father died in South Africa in 2007. Before his death, he had expressed his wish to immerse his ashes in Rameshwaram and pay darshan at the temple of the family’s ancestral deity. Along with fulfilling her father’s wish, Pillai also wanted to find her relatives with whom she had no contact.
According to Venkatesh Kumar, Pillai reached Dindigul with some of his officers and stayed in a traveler residence for about ten days in search of the family. The photograph and incomplete address available with him were the main basis for reaching relatives at that time.
Clue to reach family found from tea shop
During the search for the family, an important clue was found at a local tea shop. A person passing by recognized Navi Pillai’s grandfather seen in the picture. After this, with the help of the local administration, the then District Collector, revenue officials and the people of the village, Pillai was taken to his ancestral home.
There he met Venkatesh Kumar and other family members. According to relatives, Pillai was extremely happy to have found her family. He collected information about the ancestral home and related information and also got photographs taken with the family. Venkatesh Kumar said that Pillai had assured the family that she would help them if needed. This meeting gave his family an opportunity to reconnect and old family memories took on new meaning.
‘Now you won’t need a picture to find them’
After the news of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, the family expressed their happiness by cutting the cake. Venkatesh Kumar said that Pillai is not only a renowned jurist but also his aunt and family member. He described this achievement as a matter of pride for the entire village. The family is now planning to invite him to visit India.
According to Venkatesh Kumar, this time the situation will be different from before, because now the family will not have to resort to any old photograph or incomplete address to connect with them. This comment is a reminder of the emotional importance of their relationship and the search that began years ago.