India: Perin Jamshedji Mistri
Born in 1913 in Bombay (Mumbai), India, Perin Jamshedji Mistri is considered the first professional woman architect of India. She was also the first woman member of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), which was affiliated with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). She held a diploma in architecture from Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy (J.J.) School of Art in Bombay (1936), where she was the first woman enrolled as an architecture student. After graduation, she worked at Ditchburn, Mistri and Bhedwar (1937–1989), an architectural firm established by her father. Perin Jamshedji Mistri was the founding president of the first Soroptimist Club in Bombay, and she served on the Entertainment Committee for the Indian Institute of Architects, which co-organized the Ideal Home Exhibition in Bombay. Perin Jamshedji Mistri died in 1989.
References
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Ram, Sharmila Ganesan. “Perin: How This Woman Architect Made a Room for Herself in Mumbai.” Mumbai News, Times of India, October 3, 2021. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/how-this-woman-architect-made-a-room-for-herself-in-mumbai/articleshow/86723818.cms.
Singha, Sumita. “Let’s Celebrate the South Asian Pioneers Who Blazed a Trail for Women in Architecture.” Building Design, accessed August 2, 2025. https://www.bdonline.co.uk/opinion/lets-celebrate-the-south-asian-pioneers-who-blazed-a-trail-for-women-in-architecture/5123962.article.
