Godrej Industries Group Celebrates Pride@Godrej 2026
The celebrations commenced with the annual Pride March led by this year’s Pride Marshal Sudhir Sitapati, CEO, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) at Godrej One,where employees, senior leaders and allies came together in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces where individuals can participate authentically and without barriers.
Mumbai, June 3, 2026: Reinforcing its long-standing commitment to craftingan inclusive tomorrow Godrej Industries today, hosted Pride@Godrej 2026 at Godrej One, bringing together employees, community leaders, authors, activists and allies for a day of conversations, celebration and collective reflection around queer inclusion inIndia. This is a reflection of the organisation’s values of trust, fairness, and respect.
The celebrations commenced with the annual Pride March led by this year’s Pride Marshal Sudhir Sitapati, CEO, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) at Godrej One,where employees, senior leaders and allies came together in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces where individuals can participate authentically and without barriers. At the March, Sitapatilaunched a Pride in Manufacturing toolkit a practical DEI toolkit that helps manufacturing and FMCG organizations build inclusive, respectful, and legally informed workplaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
A key highlight of Pride@Godrej 2026 was the launch of Queer India Now, an anthology of queer writing, published by Westland and DEI Lab under the publishing imprint, Queer Directions. Edited by journalists and activists Dhrubo Jyoti and Dhamini Ratnam, the anthology brings together intersectional narrativesexploring identity, dignity, visibility and the lived realities of queer people in India.
The event also marked the introduction of the Queer India Fellowship, an annual leadership programme by the Godrej Foundation in partnership with Godrej DEI Lab.The 12 month initiative aims to support emerging queer leaders through mentorship, training and access to industry experts, with a focus on sectors where queer representation has historically remained limited.
The evening featured dance performances, queer bazaar, a hiring booth and readings and conversations centred on queer literature, identity and inclusion, with participationfrom writers, artists and community members. Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice A.P. Shah, attended the event as Chief Guest and spoke on the importance of dignity, equality and constitutional values in building a more inclusive society.
Speaking at the event, Parmesh Shahani, Head of Godrej DEI Lab and author of Queeristan, said, “What makes Pride@Godrej meaningful is that it continues to create space for authentic queer voices, stories and leadership. Whether it is through literature, fellowships, community partnerships or conversations inside our workplaces, the effort is to buildecosystems where people feel seen, heard and valued for who they are. Queer inclusion is not only about representation. It is about creating environments where individuals can dream freely, participate fully and shape the future with confidence. The warmthand solidarity we witnessed today reminds us that change becomes possible when institutions and communities come together with empathy and intent.”
Celebrations will also go beyond Godrej One throughout June, with Pride marches planned at Godrej Consumer Products’ greenfield plant in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu,where employees will mark the launch of Transcafe, a queer-run café. Businesses across the Group will come together to drive inclusive hiring initiatives, facilitate conversations on allyship, spotlight LGBTQIA+ histories through storytelling, and lead sensitisationcampaigns—fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace ecosystem. For further insights into the evolving workplace paradigm, visit
