>Wikibablu at 15:57, 7 January 2022

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{{short description|Indian journalist }}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Farhat Amin
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|2|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Cuttack]], [[Odisha]], India
| death_place =
| occupation = Journalist, social activist
| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater = [[Ravenshaw University]]
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Saleem Farook]]|1998|2000|end=died}}
| children = 1
| signature =
| website =
| father = [[Afzal-ul Amin]]
| mother = Syeda Roshanara Akhtar
| relatives = [[Sayeed Mohammed]] (''paternal grandfather''),
[[Begum Badar un nissa Akhtar]] (''paternal grandmother''),

[[Hussain Rabi Gandhi]] (''brother-in-law''),
[[Ibrahim Suhrawardy]] (''maternal grandfather'')

}}
'''Farhat Amin''' (born 26 February 1967;[[Cuttack]], [[Odisha]] ) is an Indian journalist, [[cartoonist]] and social activist.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Breaking through the barrier|url=http://asu.thehoot.org/media-watch/media-practice/breaking-through-the-barrier-1180|website=asu.thehoot.org/|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=True Grit|url=https://www.oxfamindia.org/blog/true-grit|website=oxfamindia.org|language=en|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> She's Odisha's state convenor of [[Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan]], a national rights based organisation which fights for the rights of Muslim women.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan|url=https://bmmaindia.com/|website=Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan|language=en|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> Farhat is the founder and chief functionary of BIRD Trust, a non-governmental organisation which works for the upliftment of marginalized women in [[Odisha]].<ref name=":0" /> She is the pioneer of Muslim women movement in [[Odisha]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oxfam In Action: Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls Among Muslim Community in Odisha {{!}} Violence {{!}} Domestic Violence|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/340968765/Addressing-Violence-Against-Women-and-Girls-Among-the-Muslim-Community-in-Odisha|website=Scribd|language=en|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=PRESS COVERAGE OF THE DHARNA BY BMMA AGAINST ORAL DIVORCE|url=https://bmmaindia.com/2013/06/13/press-coverage-of-the-dharna-by-bmma-against-oral-divorce/|last=bmmaindia|date=13 June 2013|website=Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan|language=en|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> In 2005 she was enlisted in the directory of Development journalists published by the prestigious [[Press Institute of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan|url=https://bmmaindia.com/2012/11/15/212/|date=2012-11-15|website=Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref>

==Early life and education==

Farhat Amin was born in 1967 as the youngest daughter of the notable Muslim politician and social worker of Cuttack, [[Afzal-ul Amin]] and his wife Syeda Roshanara Akhtar. Farhat is the granddaughter of the eminent educationist and freedom fighter, [[Sayeed Mohammed]]. Farhat completed her early education from P.M. Academy and St.Joseph Girl's high school, she then did her graduation in English Literature (hons) from [[Sailabala Women's College, Cuttack]]. Farhat completed her master's in English literature from [[Ravenshaw University]] in 1987.<ref name=":0" /> Later she joined the field of [[Journalism]] after doing a [[Postgraduate diploma|P.G Diploma]] in Journalism and [[Mass communication]] from St. Nivedita's college in Kolkata.

==Career==
Farhat began her career in journalism as the sub-editor of [[Sun Times]], later as a columnist she designed, illustrated and edited a weekly column for children (Kid's corner) of the [[Sun Times]]. In July 1992 Farhat joined Hindustan times as its Cuttack Correspondent and wrote news, reports and articles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PressReader.com – Your favorite newspapers and magazines.|url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-lucknow/20161216/282123521152182|website=pressreader.com|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=India: Citizen's Memo To UPA Govt Fulfill Your Promise To Enact A Law That Protects All Against Communal And Targeted Violence (8 Oct. 2013)|url=http://www.sacw.net/article5836.html|last=Web|first=South Asia Citizens|date=22 May 2020|website=South Asia Citizens Web|language=en|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

In 1998 Farhat married [[Saleem Farook]], a social activist from [[Coorg]], [[Karnataka]] who worked for the tribals in [[Kalahandi]]. Farhat then wrote and illustrated articles for various national and local dailies and magazines as a freelance journalist.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Behera|first=Hari Krishna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EIRkCwAAQBAJ&dq=indian+journalist+farhat+amin&pg=PA88|title=GENDER BIAS IN INDIAN NEWS MEDIA: A STUDY OF THE ORIYA LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-329-78644-8|language=en}}</ref> During this time she got the opportunity to meet and interview Mr. [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]] (the former chief minister of Kerela), [[Kushwant Singh]] (Columinist),<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Khushwant|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mEVC3iNjd3AC&dq=farhat+amin+cuttack&pg=PA25|title=Khushwant Singh's Joke Book|date=1991|publisher=Orient Paperbacks|isbn=978-81-222-0057-7|language=en}}</ref> [[Manmohini Sahgal]] (Freedom fighter) and [[Amrita Pritam]] (Poetess) for various dailies and magazines.

Farhat received a Media Fellowship from [[Oxfam]] to work on Violence Against Women in Southeast Asia before the campaign started in Odisha in 2004. She worked as a campaign manager for We Can, Odisha. It was during this period when she realised the plight of [[Muslim]] and [[Dalit]] women who were doubly oppressed from within and outside the community.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=India: Citizen's Memo To UPA Govt Fulfill Your Promise To Enact A Law That Protects All Against Communal And Targeted Violence (8 Oct. 2013)|url=http://www.sacw.net/article5836.html|last=Web|first=South Asia Citizens|date=22 May 2020|website=South Asia Citizens Web|language=en|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Muslim women seek ban on oral talaq|url=http://www.milligazette.com/news/8082-muslim-women-seek-ban-on-oral-talaq|last=Gazette|first=The Milli|date=27 June 2013|website=milligazette.com|language=en|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Perappadan|first=Bindu Shajan|date=2012-08-03|title=Muslim women offer chadar to revive 'comatose' Sachar report|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/muslim-women-offer-chadar-to-revive-comatose-sachar-report/article3718836.ece|access-date=2020-05-30|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

She is the current state convenor of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Odisha and has been working for women with a special focus on Muslim and Dalit women since sixteen years now.<ref name="Ahmed">{{Cite web|title=Social vulnerability BIRD seeks solutions for the challenges|url=https://ruralmarketing.in/industry/social/social-vulnerability-bird-seeks-solutions-for-the-challenges|last=Ahmed|first=Khusnuma Parween|website=ruralmarketing.in|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> As a part of it she has been organizing awareness programmes for Muslim and Dalit women in 6 districts of Odisha including [[Cuttack]], [[Jajpur]], [[Khurda]], [[Berhampur]], [[Ganjam]] and [[Bhadrak]]. Under her convenorship surveys were conducted in Odisha regarding the Triple talaaq, Model Nikahnama, [[polygamy]] and other right based issues.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A study in education: How Muslim women are getting into the classroom|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/a-study-in-education-how-muslim-women-are-getting-into-the-classroom/story-H0jDdoLcYKp1GHL4zGNioN.html|date=16 December 2016|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Muslim Women Hail Government Move On Triple Talaq|url=https://www.ommcomnews.com/india-news/muslim-women-hail-government-move-on-triple-talaq|last=NEWS|first=OMMCOM|website=ommcomnews.com|date=10 October 2016|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Muslim Women Step Up Demand for Codification of Personal Law|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2014/jul/03/Muslim-Women-Step-Up-Demand-for-Codification-of-Personal-Law-631448.html|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

In 2008 she established her own non-governmental organisation called BIRD (Bold Initiatives Research and Documentation), which works for the empowerment, justice, health, education and employment of marginalized women in Odisha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Structure|url=https://birdtrust.wordpress.com/about/structure/|date=17 July 2013|website=BIRD Trust|language=en|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Ahmed"/>

She was a member of the Free legal Aid committee of Odisha State Legal Authority and also the member of the ethical committee of [[Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital]], Cuttack.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack|url=http://scbmch.nic.in/committee.php|website=scbmch.nic.in|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref> She is currently a life member of Odisha State Council for child welfare.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Organization{{!}} OSCCW|url=http://osccw.org/organization.html|website=osccw.org|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

==Controversy==

===Masjid Entry===
In November 2007, the fortnightly Violence Against Women awareness programme was held in Odisha under her convenorship. With the due permission from the masjid authorities the programme was scheduled to be conducted inside the library of the Masjid premises. Farhat asked the senior authority of the Masjid, if the women could offer namaz in the mosque to which he said yes. He instructed the women to enter the masjid through another door and offer [[namaz]] in the library.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Women pray in public – Shut out of crowded mosque, group offers namaaz at madarsa|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/women-pray-in-public-shut-out-of-crowded-mosque-group-offers-namaaz-at-madarsa/cid/669603|website=telegraphindia.com|language=en|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Government treats Muslim law as hot potato|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2011/mar/08/government-treats-muslim-law-as-hot-potato-233644.html|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

As Farhat would do in all the programmes, before this programme too she had informed the local police station. Her journalist friends picked the news and soon ‘''Muslim women entering the mosque''’ was all over the media. Around 100 women who had finished the training programme were ready to offer namaz in the mosque. The mosque authorities then allowed only 5 women, which Farhat politely refused as they were more in number, hence the women offered namaz under the shamiana itself. Farhat told the media that they were not offering namaz inside the mosque because the mosque was too small to accommodate all the women who had come for the programme. When the journalists met the mosque head, the mosque authority developed a cold feet and backed out saying that they did not give permission to anyone for offering namaz inside the mosque or in the shamiana and that Farhat and her team had forcibly entered the Masjid. This became a huge issue and a [[fatwa]] was passed against her.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mass prayer:Muslim women discouraged|url=https://sunninews.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/mass-prayermuslim-women-discouraged/|last=City|first=Sunni|date=31 December 2007|website=Welcome to Sunni News|language=en|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

Anjuman-Islamia Ahle Sunnat-o-Jammat, the apex body of the Muslim community in the city issued a [[fatwa]] to all the 33 mosques in the city to stop women from praying at public places, in spite of the fact that Muslim women are not barred from praying in public by the [[Shariat]]. However the practice is generally discouraged in India. But in big mosques, there are separate enclosures for women which again are seldom used.<ref name=":2" /> In 2020, 13 years after this incident had taken place in Cuttack, the [[All India Muslim Personal Law Board]], the leading body of Muslim opinion in [[India]] declared that women can enter mosques, stating that [[Islam]] allows its women to pray in mosques.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Muslim Law Board says women are free to pray in mosques – but most women have been told the opposite|url=https://scroll.in/article/951654/muslim-law-board-says-women-are-free-to-pray-in-mosques-but-most-women-have-been-told-the-opposite|last=Johari|first=Aarefa|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

==Awards==
In 2005 she was awarded the Kalinga Gastroenterology Foundation Samana for spreading public awareness and striving to eradicate the menace of [[Hepatitis B]] among children.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Kgfind.in|url=http://www.kgfind.in/Achievement1.htm|website=kgfind.in|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref>

In 2009 she was felicitated by the [[Governor of Odisha]] on Women's Day in the [[NAWO|National Alliance of Women Organisation]]'s (NAWO) meet in [[Bhubaneswar]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=News : A portal for NGO Funding, Directory ,Jobs in India|url=http://www2.ngoportal.org/article-803-NAWO+-+National+Alliance+of+Women+-+Observes+World+Human+Rights+Day.html|website=www2.ngoportal.org|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amin, Farhat}}
[[Category:Social justice activists]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Amin family]]
[[Category: Social workers from Odisha]]
[[Category:Ravenshaw University alumni]]
[[Category:Journalists from Odisha]]

Farhat Amin - Revision history

>Wikibablu at 15:57, 7 January 2022