M. Haleema Beevi
M. Haleema Beevi (1920-2000) was an Indian journalist, social activist, freedom fighter, Islamic feminist, newspaper editor and publisher.[1][2][3] She has the unique position of being the proprietor of three women’s periodicals and a general magazine in Kerala. Haleema Beevi was also the president of the Thiruvalla Muslim Women’s Association and an active member of the Muslim Majlis.[4]
M. Haleema Beevi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1920 |
| Died | 2000 |
| Occupation | Publisher, Writer, Editor |
| Known for | Journalism, Social Reform, Islamic Feminism |
| Spouse(s) | K.M. Mohammed Moulavi |
She worked as a Municipal Councilor at Thiruvalla, Kerala between 1938 and 1945 and was the first Muslim woman to hold that position.
Personal life
She was born in Adoor, Kerala in 1920. Her parents were Peer Mohammed and Maideen Beevi.[5] She and her sister were sent to school, contrary to the custom in their locality. She was able to study till Class 7. She was married to K.M. Mohammed Moulavi when she was sixteen years old. Her husband encouraged her in her public activities. He was himself a writer, editor and religious scholar.
Publications
She started the Muslim Vanitha in 1938 at the age of eighteen. It was printed from Thiruvalla and later moved to Kodungalloor. The magazine had to be stopped due to objections from conservative groups among the local Muslims and a lack of finances. She started a general weekly called the Bharatachandrika in 1944. This was turned into a daily in 1946. The newspaper and weekly had prominent women and men as writers and sub-editors including Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, N. Balamani amma, P. Kesavadev, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, G. Sankara Kurup, M.P. Appan, P. Kunhiraman Nair, O.N.V. Kurup, S. Guptan Nair, etc. She was the printer, publisher and editor for this periodical. Once Bharatachandrika was converted to a daily, it ran into financial difficulties.[citation needed] Concurrently, she had started a women’s magazine called The Vanitha (1944). In 1970, she started another magazine called Adhunika Vanitha.[6] This magazine also was unsuccessful.
She used to contribute articles related to Islam in the Al Manar magazine.
Activism
During the reign of Dewan C.P. Ramaswamy, when printing presses and newspapers were running into trouble, she learnt printing, composing and binding. She used to print leaflets and other materials for those protesting against the rule of the dewan. M. Haleema Beevi and her husband helped with the composing and printing of articles and leaflets for the Malayala Manorama when that newspaper came into conflict with the government. Sir C.P. Ramaswamy had offered her a job if she would be ready to give up her political career.[2]
She had been jailed for her ideals and taking part in the Vimochana samaram.[5]
She worked tirelessly for the emancipation of women, specifically Muslim women. She wanted to bring Muslim women to mainstream society. She had fairly radical ideas that were rooted in her Islamic heritage. She wrote and spoke about including subjects such as health, psychology and Quran in the educational syllabus.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lost and found". Times of India Blog. 2021-03-06. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Muringatheri, Mini; Muringatherithrissur, Mini (2019-02-01). "She chose the less-travelled path". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ↑ Pradeep (2021-02-23). "Why it took Kerala so long to recognise the work of a woman editor of 1930s". The Federal. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ↑ "M Haleema Beevi". Swatantryavaadini. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "ശതാബ്ദി ആഘോഷിച്ച ഹലീമാ ബീവി ആരാണ്?". News18 Malayalam. 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ↑ Codingest (2021-01-04). "Haleema Beevi: A formidable figure in Kerala renaissance". TheSite. Retrieved 2021-06-09.