• Dr. Syeda Saiyidain Hameed

    Dr. Syeda Saiyidain Hameed is a feminist and activists, educationist, writer, who is widely recognized for her passionate engagement in public affairs and social issues, especially for women, minorities and peace. She is a former Member of the National Commission for Women and a former member of the Planning Commission of India. She has engaged with several Indian and international civil society organizations in initiating path breaking changes. She is founder of organizations besides Muslim Women’s Forum, Women’s Initiative for peace in South Asia (WIPSA), South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) and the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation. Current affiliations includes, Khwaja Ahmed Abbas Memorial Trust, National Foundation of India, The Hunger Project: Global Board Member, Population Foundation of India, Janvikas, Centre for Social Justice, Action Aid etc.

    Dr. Sughra Mehdi

    • 1937 – 2014
    • Dr. Mehdi was a writer, an academician, a women’s rights activist. She taught at Jamia Millia Islamia as a Professor in the Department of Urdu at Jamia Millia Islamia. She was a strong advocate of Jamia’s secular and liberal status. Her first novel ‘Paa ba Joolan’ was published in 1972 that beautifully covers the problems of her contemporary women. It was awarded by the Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy

    Begum Saeeda Khursheed

    • 1927 – 2015
    • Born in Kaimganj, UP, she moved to Delhi when her father Dr Zakir Husain established Jamia Millia Islamia. Her early education was at a local government school in Karol Bagh where Jamia was then located. She wrote Zakir Sahib ki Kahani Unki Beti ki Zubaani. She was the Founder President of the Muslim Women’s Forum in 2000, inspiring the organisation to take the middle ground on issues of Muslim women’s rights. She led the organization to engage with all sections of Muslim society, activists and Ulema to resolve issues internally.