New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday declined to comment on South African jurist of Indian origin Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay receiving the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, nearly a month after she was announced as the award’s recipient.
Asked whether the Indian government had any response to Pillay winning the prestigious honour, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “I have no comments to offer.”
The response comes after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the government for not publicly congratulating Pillay following the announcement.
What Did Shashi Tharoor Say About The Government’s Silence?
On October 19, Tharoor took to X and questioned the government’s response to the recognition.
“It’s been six days since this remarkable woman of Indian origin won the #NobelPeacePrize. And the Government of India, her ancestral homeland, hasn’t so much as congratulated her?! Shame on the petty men who have made such a deplorable decision,” he wrote.
The MEA’s response on Tuesday came amid the criticism over the absence of an official congratulatory message.
Why Did Navi Pillay Win The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize?
Pillay, 85, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on October 9 for her decades-long work in international law, human rights and accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Born in Durban in 1941 to a family of Indian Tamil descent, Pillay grew up under apartheid in South Africa. Her ancestors had left India more than 130 years ago, first settling in Sri Lanka before moving to South Africa.
She began her career as a lawyer representing anti-apartheid activists and political prisoners. In 1995, she became the first woman of colour appointed to South Africa’s High Court.
Pillay later served as president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Her work there contributed to legal precedents recognising rape and sexual violence as acts that could constitute genocide and crimes against humanity. She also served as a judge at the International Criminal Court and as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.
Navi Pillay’s Role In The UN Inquiry On Gaza
Pillay subsequently chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In 2025, the commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, a finding strongly rejected by Israel.
The Nobel recognition acknowledged Pillay’s sustained efforts to strengthen international law and advance accountability for some of the gravest crimes against humanity.
