M. Haleema Beevi

M. Haleema Beevi (1918–2000) was an Indian journalist, social activist, freedom fighter, Islamic feminist, newspaper editor and publisher. 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.

She worked as a Municipal Councilor at Thiruvalla, She lost her father at a young age. This magazine also was unsuccessful.

She used to contribute articles related to Islam in the Al Manar magazine.

Activism While a religious preaching was going on in the village, a religious scholar gave his own definition to education that Islam does not give. Haleema Beevi and her friends stood up from the audience and questioned the scholar and went down with some women after saying everything she had to say. Before leaving, Beevi challenged that those who could preach Islam cleanly would be preached in the same place the next day. From the next day onwards, K.M. Mohammad Moulavi, Aslam Moulavi, M. Abdul Salam IAS and others preached. This incident in the life of Halima Beevi, had a great impact on the Muslim history of Kerala.

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.

She had been jailed for her ideals and taking part in the Vimochana samaram.

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.

Family and death Haleema Beevi 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. Their children are Ansar Begum, Nafisa Beevi, Jameela Beevi, retired headmistress of Paringkanni UPS School Mohammad Ashraf, General Manager, CIDCO, Thiruvananthapuram and late. Ayesha. After the death of Mohammad Moulavi in 1992, Halima Beevi completely withdrew from public life. She later lived in Perumbavoor with her daughter Nafisa Beevi. She died on 14 January 2000.