July 2004 – Present: Member, Planning Commission, Govt. of India
In the Planning Commission, my sectoral responsibilities include Health, Women and Children, Minorities, Voluntary Action (Planning Commission is a nodal agency for Govt – NGO interface), Handlooms and Handicrafts, the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT) and Island Development Authority.
July 2008 – Present: Chancellor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad
The Maulana Azad National Urdu University was established in 1998 by an Act of the Parliament as a Central University with an all India jurisdiction. The Mandate and Objective of the University, as per the Act, is to promote and develop the Urdu language, provide higher, technical and vocational education in the Urdu medium and to provide focus on women’s education.
2004 to present
Member, Island Development Authority (headed by the PM, the IDA was established in 1986 to ensure the ecologically sound development of the country’s two major island chains; Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep).
2000 to present:
Founder Member: Muslim Women’s Forum (MWF)
MWF is involved in Legal Literacy for Muslim women, voicing concerns of Muslim women to government and interfacing with Ulemas on matters concerning their rights.
Founder Trustee: Women’s Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA)
An organization where women are catalysts for people to people contact in the South Asian region on a sustained basis to bring about a climate of peace through dialogue. Took a Women’s Bus of Peace from Delhi to Lahore and Lahore to Delhi; later Women’s Bus of Peace from Kolkata to Dhaka.
Founder Member: South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR)
A regional membership based body focusing on human rights issues in the South Asian Region. It consists of members from the 5 countries namely Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. It is committed to addressing Human Rights at both regional and national level.
Founder Trustee: Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation
Serving as an initiative that links the issues of dialogue with justice and equity and through this integral link, serves as a catalyst for both internal and external peace and reconciliation in South Asia.
1997 to 2000:
Member: National Commission for Women, Govt. of India
National Commission for Women (NCW) is a statutory body under the National Commission for Women Act 1990. The powers of the Commission are listed under Section 10 of the Act and encompassed under clause 10. “To investigate and examine the safeguards provided to women under the Constitution of India and make recommendations to govt. on the proper I looked after the following areas: Muslim Women, Violence against Women, Trafficking of women and children, Women in Prostitution, Political Empowerment of Women including Panchayati Raj, Sexual Harassment at Workplace, Girl Child, Female foeticide and infanticide, Gender and Media
MAJOR AWARDS
Padma Shri, 2007
Al-Ameen All India Community Leadership Award 2006
MAJOR PUBLICATIONS:
Books:
They Hang: 12 Women in My Portrait Gallery, Women Unlimited, 2006
My Voice Shall be Heard: Status of Muslim Women 2003, Muslim Women’s Forum November 2003
Mussaddas-e-Hali (Ebb and Tide in Islam) Verse translation of Maulana Altaf Husain Hali’s Magnum Opus consisting of 394 cantos. Harper Collins, February 2003.
Shanti Parasmoni: Women’s Bus of Peace from Kolkata to Dhaka, WIPSA, 2003
Journey For Peace: Women’s Bus of Peace from Delhi to Lahore, WIPSA 2000
Dr. Zakir Husain: Teacher Who Became President, ICCR and Haranand, 2000
Voice of the Voiceless: Status of Muslim Women in India, March 2000
Islamic Seal on India’s Independence: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Oxford, 1998
The Contemporary Relevance of Sufism, ICCR, 1995
Rubaiyat-e-Sarmad ICCR 1991
India’s Maulana: Abul Kalam Azad: in 4 volumes
-Tributes and Appraisals
-Selected Writings
-Imamul Hind (Urdu)
-Imamul Hind (Hindi)
A Dream Turns Seventy-five (With Khushwant Singh) Allied, 1995
Selected, Introduced and Translated
The Quilt and Other Stories: Kali for Women, 1986
Parwaaz: Kali for Women, 1996
Translated
Facts are Facts by Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Vikas, 1998
Letters from Prison by Mohammad Yunus, Vikas, 1985
Under Publication
Gard and Gardish: Dust and Movement (Working Title): Harper Collins. With Gunjan Veda. This book is based on travels across the country during my Planning Commission tenure and provides glimpses into the unknown, unseen faces of India and its people.
(Under Preparation) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: Protagonist of Greek Tragedy
Education
1972 PhD University of Alberta, Canada
1965 MA University of Hawaii, USA
1963 BA Delhi University, India
Research
1994-1997 Indian Council for Historical Research
Worked on Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
1991-1994 Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
Worked on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
1987-1991 Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
Worked on Azad and on Sufism.
Present Honorary Positions
Vice-Chairperson, SAF-India (South Asia Foundation-India)
Co-Chairperson, Hali Panipati Trust
Governing Council Chairman, Zaheer Science Foundation
Board Member, Olakh
Board Member, Oxfam India
Governing Board Member, India Habitat Centre
Governing Board Member, ActionAid Association
Member, Sub-Committee on ‘Women and the Games’
Trustee Dalit Foundation
Trustee Janvikas, Ahmedabad Gujarat
Trustee, Sahr Waru
Trustee, Sangat Trust
Past Honorary Positions
Chairperson, Governing Body: Lady Irwin College
Member Women’s Empowerment Committee, Govt. of NCT Delhi
Member Management Committee: Modern School
Member Delhi Urdu Academy
Member Haryana Urdu Academy
Member National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language
Trustee National Foundation of India
Trustee Navsarjan Ahmedabad Gujarat
Board Member, Indo-Global Social Service Society
Governing Board Member Indian Social Institute
Administration
1975-1978: Executive Assistant to Minister of Advanced Education and Manpower Govt. of Alberta, Canada
1978-1985: Director of Colleges and Universities. Govt. of Alberta, Canada
Teaching
1972-1974: Sessional Lecturer University of Alberta, Canada
1965-1967: Lecturer, Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, India
Personal
Resident of Delhi. Born in Kashmir. Travelled in all South Asia, USA, Canada, West Asia, South East Asia, UK and Europe and CIS States. Husband Dr.S.M.A.Hameed (late) was Professor of Business Admin and Commerce at the Univ. of Alberta, Canada. Three children: Dr. Morad Hameed Trauma Surgeon, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada, Yavar Hameed, Hameed Farrokhzad Elgazzar Brousseau, Ottawa and a Law Faculty of Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada and Dr. Ayesha Hameed, Academic and film maker, London, England.
