A Muslim Woman in the Face of Power: Simin Akhter’s Journey of Empathy and Resistance | #IndianWomenInHistory

Dr. Simin Akhter Naqvi was an academic, activist, poet, author and artist whose legacy transcends time and leaves an indelible mark on hearts and minds. Dr. Naqvi fought tirelessly against gender inequality, caste discrimination and labor exploitation and advocated for the dignity and rights of marginalized communities. She was a radical feminist but had an accommodating expression on her face.

Simin’s early life and education

Dr. Naqvi was born on January 17, 1985 and showed extraordinary potential from a young age. She completed her education at the CRPF Public School in Rohini, where her leadership skills stood out as head girl. She was a wonderful artist and painted many canvases. She was also a taekwondo player. For her poetry, she received a personal award from the then Prime Minister and celebrated poet, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee – a moment that showcased her extraordinary talent and courage.

Source: Linkedin

She did her undergraduate studies from Satyawati College, University of Delhi, graduating in 2006, and completed her post-graduate studies from the Department of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in 2008. She was the one who started the study department magazine “Rise” during her time at JMI. Dr. Naqvi received her Ph.D. made. from the Center for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at JMI entitled “Labour Markets and Welfare: Impact of Exclusion Among Muslims in the NCR”.

Dr. Naqvi had the rare ability to combine her intellectual endeavors with her activism. She knew a lot about the complicated interactions between exploitation and oppression, and her research aimed to present this complexity in a theoretically informed and empirically grounded, yet accessible, way.

Professional trip

Dr. Naqvi’s teaching career began in 2008 at Delhi University’s Zakir Husain Delhi College, where she became a cornerstone of the institution. Her academic areas of interest include labor markets, gender sociology and political economy. Her engaging teaching style, empathy and genuine care for her students made her one of the university’s most popular and respected lecturers. She inspired countless young minds, encouraging them to challenge societal norms and strive for excellence.

Activism and Advocacy

Dr. Naqvi was a fearless activist whose work was deeply rooted in her unwavering commitment to social justice. She was a great advocate for gender equality. She constantly spoke about the concepts of gender fluidity, LGBTQIA+ rights, and disability studies. In the last years of her life she was very active in politics. As an activist, she was fearless and very vocal for her students. She often urged her colleagues to stand by the students. In addition to her fearlessness, she was a sensitive person. She was always there for the non-teaching staff and fought for their rights.

Her students affectionately called her “Zinda Dil Insaan”. When the RG Kar rape case occurred, the students of Zakir Hussain College decided to protest on the campus. The administration did not let the students protest. Simin stepped in and ensured that the protest took place at the college gate.

She was also a very important part of the Common Teachers’ Forum, set up in 2009 as an attempt to coordinate views on the introduction of the semester system. She joined the CTF as a political activist much later in her life, but was very active in the CTF. She always brought an important and critical aspect to the functioning of CTF as an Ambedkarist-Marxist group. She launched an umbrella solidarity in which she included other new members from the grassroots.

Poetry: A Form of Resistance

Dr. Naqvi has been writing poetry since her school days. She was not only a good writer but also a wonderful speaker. She had a good command of Hindi, English and Urdu. Her poems reflected her politics, which spoke highly of the marginalized and sought equality and social justice. Of the poems she wrote earlier, her protest poetry was one of the most lively. It was reported that her book of poetry was about to be published and she was quite excited about it.

Source: Academdia

In the dark times we find ourselves in, Simin has never been afraid to speak out against the genocide in Palestine. For this reason she also wrote poetry, as it was a medium of protest for her.

A few lines of the same follow:

“Bomb the cities,

Destroy all schools

and hospitals you want,

but from the rubble and ashes,

the children will get up,

like a dust storm,

and spread across lands and seas,

like stories.”

‘Mere Pyaare Bachche’: Naqvi’s concern for mental health

Simin has been an exceptional student since her school days. She was always multitasking, and it was no easy task. Being a Muslim woman, constantly advocating for the rights of minorities and fighting with those in power was mentally exhausting. However, she never made a secret of her mental health concerns. She was a great conversationalist. Whenever she was going through a difficult period mentally, she would talk openly about it with colleagues, friends, and even her students.

Dr. Naqvi paid close attention to mental health. She was always concerned about her people, students and colleagues. Numerous mental health programs and awareness sessions were held under her leadership. She was available to talk to her students at any time. There was something about Simin so beautiful that she looked at the people around her and noticed that they weren’t well. She used to organize professional psychological counseling and legal assistance for students in need.

She was always afraid that someone would come and hurt her students and friends. Simin called her colleague Dr.

Simin against constant saffronization

As a Muslim feminist woman, Simin has always been aware of her identity and the importance it plays in the movement to which she belonged. She was always concerned about her Muslim colleagues. Personally after 2014 when the verdict came down The government came to powerwhose aim was to create a Hindutva state, Simin expressed her fear and concern for Muslims, especially women. She also talked about this with her friends.

Dr. Naqvi’s mother was a professor of economics at Delhi University’s Satyawati College and his father worked at Jamia. For this reason, Simin has been politically conscious of her Muslim identity since childhood. Whenever there were conversations about women’s inclusion and rights in her college and outside, she was very outspoken in support of Muslim women. The increasing hatred against Muslims at the university always caused her great difficulties. She often turned against the government for the same reason.

She was always very vocal about Muslims at the university. In 2021, after a decade, when Delhi University decided to hold interviews for permanent appointments of professors instead of the previous ad hoc teaching appointments, it expressed concern that the current government would target Muslims and throw them out. The number of Muslim professors was already lower and politically motivated interviews made it difficult to rehire some Muslim professors. Dr. Naqvi expressed this concern even during the elections, when it was so unsafe to even speak.

A complex legacy

Dr. Naqvi’s influence reached far beyond the academic world. As a poet and author, her writings captured the struggles and resilience of marginalized communities and reflected their hopes and dreams with elegance and grace. Her artistic skills also extended to the canvas, where her sketches and paintings reflected the beauty and depth of her inner world. Every aspect of her life, from her intellectual pursuits to her creative expression, was a testament to her unwavering commitment to fighting discrimination and systemic injustice.

Untimely farewell

On October 21, 2024, the untimely death of Dr. Simin Akhter Naqvi leaves her family, friends and academic community in deep mourning. Her brilliance, her compassion and her boundless joy for life were extinguished far too soon, leaving a void that can never be filled.

Yet her legacy lives on. Dr. Naqvi’s contributions as a scientist, teacher, poet, activist and artist continue to inspire and guide those who have had the privilege of knowing her. She remains a beacon of intellect, creativity and empathy – a reminder that a life lived with purpose and passion is never truly lost.

On her short but extraordinary journey, Dr. Simin Akhter Naqvi proved that a life, when lived with courage and conviction, can enlighten countless others.

References:

• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100018948615928
• Interview with Dr. Shirin Akhter, associate professor in the Department of Economics and sister of Dr. Simin Akhter
• Interview with Dr. Vijendra Chauhan, Associate Professor in the Department of Hindi and friend of Dr. Simin Akhter
• Interview with Dr. Sachin, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and a friend of Dr. Simin Akhter