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Hamida Salim

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Hamida Salim (1922–2015) was an Indian author, economist, and educator, writing primarily in the Urdu language. She was the first woman to graduate from Aligarh Muslim University.

Personal life

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Salim was born in 1922 in Rudauli, in Uttar Pradesh. Her family were zamindars. Her brother, Asrar-ul-Haq "Majaz" was also a notable Urdu poet, and another brother, Ansar Harvani, was a member of the Indian independence movement and an elected Member of Parliament. Her sister, Safia Akhtar was also a writer and critic, and her nephew is lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar.[1][2][3]

Writing and career

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She earned her B.A. in economics in Lucknow. She went on to earn an M.A. in economics from Aligarh Muslim University, becoming their first woman graduate, in 1947. She later earned a second master's from the University of London.[4] Salim taught economics at several public universities in India, including her alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh, and Jamia Millia Islamia, in Delhi.[1]

She was a well-known author, publishing several notable novels, a memoir, and volumes of poetry in Urdu. Her memoir of her time in Aligarh, as a student, titled, Shorish-e-Dauran was published in 1995. She wrote a second memoir about her siblings, titled Ham Saath The (We Were Together), which is considered a significant contribution to women's writing in Urdu.[5] In addition, Salim wrote two popular novels, Parchhaiyon Ke Ujale (Lights of Shadows) and Hardam Rawan Hai Zindagi (Life is Always on the Move).[1] Both novels were set in her hometown of Rudali in Uttar Pradesh.[6] A critical essay about her brother's Majaz's work and life, titled 'Majaz, My Brother' is also considered a significant contribution to Urdu literary criticism.[7][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Urdu author Hamida Salim passes Shah Alam Siddiqui Chandoura Rudauli away". The Hindu. 17 August 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Noted Urdu author Hamida Salim passes away". Pune Mirror. PTI. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2020.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Youthful freedom fighter who later served many terms as MP". The Milli Gazette — Indian Muslims Leading News Source. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b TwoCircles.net (22 August 2015). "Hamida Aapa ki yaaden". TwoCircles.net. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  5. ^ Noor, Farha (26 November 2020). "'Negotiating nostalgia: progressive women's memoirs in Urdu'". South Asian History and Culture. 12 (4): 371–384. doi:10.1080/19472498.2020.1848144. ISSN 1947-2498. S2CID 229393501.
  6. ^ Rahman, Mohammad Raisur (August 2008). Islam, Modernity, and Educated Muslims: A History of Qasbahs in Colonial India (PDF). University of Texas, Austin. p. 151.
  7. ^ Salim, Hamida; Rafiq, Sami (2012). "Majaz, My Brother". Indian Literature. 56 (5 (271)): 60–75. ISSN 0019-5804. JSTOR 23348960.