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Indian-born Manjula Sood, UK local leader, dies
Sood was appointed an MBE and awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Leicester.
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Rwittika Chakraborty
- Sat, 27, Dec 2025
- 00:19 EST
- 15
Manjula Sood / manjulasood.com/
India-born Manjula Sood, a councillor who became the United Kingdom's first female Asian lord mayor, passed away at the age of 80 on Dec. 24.
Sood moved to Leicester from Punjab, India, in 1970, where she had been studying for a PhD, and completed her studies before becoming a primary school teacher for around 20 years, as per her website.
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She was also one of the first Asian female teachers in Leicester in 1973.
Sood was the city's first female Hindu councillor in October 1996, after winning a by-election triggered by her husband Paul's death earlier that year. In May 2008, she was named the UK's and Leicester's first Asian female lord mayor.
While serving as lord mayor for a one-year tenure, Sood was appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) and awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Leicester.
Following her death, a message on her website read,
"It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Manjula Sood, a loving mother and grandmother, and a dedicated servant of the Leicester community. Details of a memorial service will be shared in due course. The family kindly request privacy at this time and ask that there be no home visits."
Sood had also served as assistant mayor and Labour councillor for the Stoneygate ward in the city, while also being the first Asian female to receive the Leicester and Rutland Women of the Year Award for 2006.
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