Ashima Kaul

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Overview

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Ashima Kaul born Srinagar, Kashmir, India December 9, 1964. Kashmiri peacemaker; journalist; organized first peace workshop of Kashmiri women “Breaking the Silence”, 2000; founded Athwaas (“Handshake” dialog between Muslim and Hindu women to get peace, 2001; founded Yakjah (“Being together”) Reconciliation and Development Network to counter violence, 2002; JoanKroc WomanPeacemaker, 2014.

Quotations

“I had to recover the dying, bullet-ridden soul of Kashmir, rebuild broken relationships, break the silence of women, give them a voice and establish new spaces for creation of a spirit of trust, solace and healing.” (Alison Morse, “A Slow Bloom”, Kroc WomenPeacemakers; photo inclusive security.org)

Amrit Kaur

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Overview

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur born Lucknow, India February 2, 1889 (d. 1964). Gandhian independence leader; resident of Gandhi's ashram, as secretary; imprisoned for her participation in Indian independence activities, including the 1930 Dandi March, the 1937 Bannu Mission, and the 1942 Quit India campaign. Served as a founding UNESCO delegate, 1945-46; headed Indian Ministry of Health, 1947-57; first woman president of the World Health Assembly, 1950.

Quotations

"No structure of society can be a stable one that had not its roots deep in the moral and spiritual values of life. . . Geographical barriers have been conquered but oceans of hate and misunderstanding still divide us." (speech to UNESCO, London, 1945 in Our Leaders, p. 140; photo toppersbiography)

Irene Khan

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Overview

Irene Khan born Dhaka, Bangladesh December 24, 1956. First female Secretary General of Amnesty International, 2001-9; UN High Commission for Refugees, 1990, leading missions to India (1991) and Macedonia (1999); recipient of Sydney Peace Prize, 2006; featured in antiwar movie Soldiers of Peace, 2009.

Quotations

"The world does not need a war against ‘terrorism,’ it needs a culture of peace based on human rights for all." (Pakistan, Dec. 10, 2001; photo wikicommons pd)

Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan

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Overview

Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan (née Sheila Irene Pant) born Almora, Uttarakhand, India February 13, 1905 (d. 1990). “Mother of Pakistan.” Diplomat and stateswoman; professor of economics. First First Lady of Pakistan, 1947-51; first Muslim woman delegate to the UN, 1952. Ambassador to Netherlands, 1954-61, Italy, 1966. First chancellor of Karachi University, 1977. Openly opposed military rule. Awarded UN Human Rights Prize, 1978.

Quotations

“God gives and God takes, but God’s work of service to humanity must go on. In the interest of that service, which must rise above all personal considerations and even grief, however great.” (Adventist Review, Nov. 1951, p. 24; photo Pakistan360degrees)