Gurmehar Kaur

Gurmehar Kaur is an Indian author and activist born on September 24, 1996, in the Indian province of Punjab. Belonging to an army background, she lost her father, Captain Mandeep Singh at the age of two. He lost his life in a terrorist attack on a Rashtriya Rifle camp (in the aftermath of the Kargil war) while he was posted in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kaur then went on to study B.A. (Hons.) in English Literature from Lady Sri Ram College for Women (Delhi).

Here, she became actively involved in student politics. She launched the #ProfileForPeace campaign in 2016. This campaign focused on creating harmony and peace between India and Pakistan. The video she created also questioned the leadership abilities in the two countries. She said that she was fighting against war by being a "soldier for peace".

In 2017, a clash between ABVP (Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad) and the SFI (Student Federation of India) occurred after the former protested at Rajmas College to prevent JNU students from giving a seminar. This protest led to violence breaking out on campus. Gurmehar launched the 'Save DU campaign' opposing the violence. She eventually had to leave the campaign following the death and rape threats she received.

Time Magazine included Kaur in their "10 Next Generation Leaders" in 2017 and called her a "free speech warrior." She is also the author the books; Small Acts of Freedom and The Young and The Restless: Youth and Politics in India. She then graduated from Somerville College, Oxford University, with an MSc in South Asian studies. Kaur is now an ambassador for a UK-based charitable organization, Postcards for Peace. Their goal is to eliminate all forms of discrimination.