Jameela Nishat is an Urdu poet, editor, and feminist from Hyderabad. Jameela Nishat is a significant presence in contemporary Urdu literature. She started writing poetry at an early age and has published three collections of poetry. She holds a Masters degree in English Literature and a post-graduate diploma in theatre arts. She taught English for twenty years and headed a school for disabled children. Deeply committed to the cause of Muslim women, she now runs the ‘Shaheen Resource Centre for Women’ in Sultan Shahi, Hyderabad. She won the Maqdoom Award in 1972. Shaheen's vision is to create a society in which gender, class, caste or religious status do not impinge upon one’s resources, rights or freedom – whether inside the home or in public spaces. The Mission of Shaheen is to create a greater consciousness of the gender and socio-religious oppression in the society. In particular, looking at how these issues have developed in our history and how they are affecting our politics and communal harmony today.