Naheed Abidi
Naheed Abidi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Occupation(s) | Academic, author, Sanskrit scholar |
| Known for | First Muslim woman to lecture in Sanskrit; Padma Shri awardee |
| Notable work | Sanskrit Sahitya Mein Rahim, Devalayasya Deepa, Sirr-e-Akbar |
Naheed Abidi is an Indian academic specializing in Sanskrit and an accomplished author. In recognition of her literary contributions, she was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian distinction, in 2014. Her other notable honors include the Nawab Raza Ali Khan Award (2018) for Sanskrit language excellence, bestowed by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh; the Late Smt. Chandrawati Joshi Sanskrit Bhasha Puraskar (2015); the Janani Jagriti Darshan Samman awarded by the Ramayanam Trust; the Vikram Kalidas Puraskar from Kalidas Samiti; along with the Dara Shikoh Sammaan and Yuva Pratibha Sammaan, both conferred by Akhil Bhartiya Vidwat Parishad.
Biography
Born in 1961 into a Shia Muslim zamindari family based in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, Abidi pursued formal education in Sanskrit. She completed her undergraduate studies at Kamla Maheshwari Degree College and earned a master's degree from K. V. Degree College, Mirzapur. Following her marriage to Ehtesham Abidi, a senior legal practitioner, she settled in Varanasi, a city renowned for its rich tradition in Sanskrit scholarship.
Abidi obtained her doctoral degree from Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith in 1993 with a dissertation focused on the Ashvin brothers within Vedic texts. Subsequently, she achieved a D.Litt. in Sanskrit from Lucknow University in 2009. Her academic career began as an unpaid lecturer at Banaras Hindu University in 2005, after which she served on a part-time daily wage basis at MGKV. Despite obstacles in securing a permanent role, she became the first Muslim woman to lecture in Sanskrit.
Her literary works include Sanskrit Sahitya Mein Rahim (2008), which explores Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana’s engagement with Sanskrit; Devalayasya Deepa, a rendition of Mirza Ghalib's Chirag-e-Dair; and Sirr-e-Akbar, a Hindi translation of fifty Upanishads originally translated into Persian by Mughal prince Dara Shikoh. Additionally, she has translated Dara Shikoh’s Vedantic and Sufi writings into Hindi.
Residing in Varanasi with her spouse and two children, Abidi also holds a position as an Executive Council member at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
Awards and recognitions
In 2014, Abidi was honored with the Padma Shri award by the Government of India for her significant literary contributions. She also received a Doctor of Letters degree from Lucknow University. On 9 September 2014, she had an audience with Narendra Modi, then Prime Minister of India, during which she presented two of her published works; this meeting was highlighted on Modi’s Google Plus page and official website. Furthermore, the Uttar Pradesh government recognized her efforts with the Yash Bharati Award in 2016.
| Award | Presented by | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Padma Award (Padma Shri) | President of India | 2014 |
| ‘Yash Bharti’ Sammaan | Government of Uttar Pradesh | 2016 |
| Late Nawab Raza Ali Khan Award | Raza Library, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh | 2018 |
| Late Smt. Chandrawati Joshi Sanskrit Bhasha Puraskar | Sri Gyan Kalyan Datavya Nyaas, New Delhi | 2015 |
| Janani Jagriti Darshan Samman | Ramayanam Trust, Ayodhya, U.P. | 2011 |
| Vikram Kalidas Puraskar | Kalidas Samiti, Govt. of M.P. | 2009 |
| Dara Shikoh Sammaan | Akhil Bhartiya Vidwat Parishad | 2007 |
| Yuva Pratibha Sammaan | Akhil Bhartiya Vidwat Parishad | 2006 |
Memberships/academic/social activities
- Served as Member of NCMEI (National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MoHRD), Government of India (January–April 2015; December 2015–December 2020).
- Held membership on the Academic Council at Aligarh Muslim University from February 2020 to February 2022.
- Part of CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification), Ministry of Home & Broadcasting, Government of India.
- Member of CABE (Central Advisory Board of Education), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India (appointed via resolution dated 11 June 2015).
- Participated as Member of the Selection Committee for Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan Awardees, nominated by HRD Minister at Ujjain (May 2013).
- Served on the Executive Council at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi as Chancellor's Nominee between 2007 and 2011.
- Acted as Visiting Professor at various Central and State Universities including M.M.V. (B.H.U.) and M.G. Kashi Vidyapeeth for over twenty years until 2015.
- Advocates for expanding Sanskrit education among Muslim youth and fostering linguistic harmony through scholarly initiatives.
Literary Works
- Naheed Abidi, Devalayasya dipah, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, 2008, ISBN 9788186111536
- Naheed Abidi, Sanskrit Sahitya Mein Rahim, Hindi Book Centre, 2006, ISBN 9788186111321
- Naheed Abidi (2021). Devalayasya Deepah (Second Edition), Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, ISBN 8186111530
- Naheed Abidi (2022). Vartman Sandarbh Mein Vaidik Moolya, National Book Trust, ISBN 9789354916243
Upcoming Publications
- Vaidik Sahitya me Ashwinav: Bhartiya evam P𝑎̅shch𝑎̅tya Mat
- A comparative analysis of Ishavasyopanishad by Acharya Shankar and Dara Shikoh
- Raheemkavye Sanskritsahitasya Prabhavah
Conference Participation
Naheed Abidi has delivered presentations at more than 200 conferences and seminars on both national and international platforms. Notably, she spoke at the World Conference hosted by Madrasa Ayatullah Zafar-ul Millat (June 2018) in Iraq & Iran on the topic of Shia Azadari in India, which included distinguished religious leaders and educators.