Nilofar Suhrawardy
Encyclopedia
Nilofar Suhrawardy is an India
n freelance journalist who has written extensively for national newspapers. Before taking to freelance journalism, she worked as an Assistant Editor for various leading Indian dailies, including The Times of India
, The Pioneer and The Statesman
. She spent several years in the United States and specialised in communication studies
and nuclear diplomacy. Her book Ayodhya Without The Communal Stamp, In the name of Indian Secularism became a bestseller.
, Uttar Pradesh
, she received her education in Delhi and United States. She received schooling from Mater Dei School, Delhi, where she was also active in extra-curricular activities as a debater, volleyball player and other areas. While pursuing graduation in History (honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
, University of Delhi
, she also participated in debates. She subsequently joined the School Of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
for Masters. She also secured a M Phil from here for her dissertation on Pakistan’s Nuclear Diplomacy. Nilofar moved to the United States, where she earned a masters degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
(a fortnightly)[2][3]. In addition to several articles written by Nilofar having been rated as the top stories, her work has also been commended for excellence in journalism.(http://www.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-annouces-finalists-of-journalism-for-tolerance-prize-in-south-asia)
Nilofar has written for various radio services and has also been interviewed by radio as well as television services, including the AIR, BBC, Voice of America, Doordarshan
News Service, Zee News, CNN-IBN news, Sahara TV, E-TV Urdu and others. She has spoken at various national and international seminars on issues linked with role of media, terrorism as well as nuclear diplomacy. Her specializations include Communications Research and Nuclear Diplomacy. She has been listed in 14th and 15th editions of International Authors and Writers’ Who’s Who, International Biographical Center, UK.
She is best known for writing pieces on controversial issues[4][5]. She criticized the American media for having labelled the Indian Hindu community as “terrorists” for demolishing the Babari Masjid in 1992 which led to nation-wide riots in India.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n freelance journalist who has written extensively for national newspapers. Before taking to freelance journalism, she worked as an Assistant Editor for various leading Indian dailies, including The Times of India
The Times of India
The Times of India is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. TOI has the largest circulation among all English-language newspaper in the world, across all formats . It is owned and managed by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd...
, The Pioneer and The Statesman
The Statesman
The Statesman is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper founded in 1875 and published simultaneously in Kolkata, New Delhi, Siliguri and Bhubaneswar. The Statesman is owned by The Statesman Ltd., its headquarters at Statesman House, Chowringhee Square, Calcutta and its national...
. She spent several years in the United States and specialised in communication studies
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
and nuclear diplomacy. Her book Ayodhya Without The Communal Stamp, In the name of Indian Secularism became a bestseller.
Education
Born in AllahabadAllahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, she received her education in Delhi and United States. She received schooling from Mater Dei School, Delhi, where she was also active in extra-curricular activities as a debater, volleyball player and other areas. While pursuing graduation in History (honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
, University of Delhi
University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is a central university situated in Delhi, India and is funded by Government of India. Established in 1922, it offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the Chancellor of the university...
, she also participated in debates. She subsequently joined the School Of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
for Masters. She also secured a M Phil from here for her dissertation on Pakistan’s Nuclear Diplomacy. Nilofar moved to the United States, where she earned a masters degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
Research
While in US, she wrote for papers there and also was editor of a monthly Eagle Heights Newsletter. She did research on Ayodhya-controversy at UW–Madison, on which penned a book after returning to India. The book Ayodhya Without Communal Stamp, In the Name of Indian Secularism (Manak Publishers, 2006) was listed as the sixth most popular book for almost two years on a website http://www.allbookstores.com/popular/(till 31 May 2009). At present, it is ranked as number one, on this website (February 2011). It remains listed among the popular books on the website- http://www.shopjmw.com/specialty/books_popular.htm. She has been in the field of journalism, while pursuing academics too, by writing actively for weeklies such as Mainstream and many Indian dailies. As a free-lance journalist, she has written extensively for Mainstream, The Hindustan Times, The Times of India, The Telegraph, The Tribune, The Indian Post, Free Press Journal, World Focus, Indian Currents, Power Politics and other papers/magazines. In addition, she has contributed articles to Asian Affairs & Impact International (UK), Wisconsin State Journal, The Badger Herald, Austin-American Statesman and quarterly journal Aakrosh. She has been informally associated with for most almost two decades with The Arab News (Saudi Arabia), the leading English daily in the Arab World. She covered US presidential elections for Arab News from US (1992–93). She contributes to The Khaleej Times (a prominent English newspaper from UAE), The Muslim Observer, a weekly from United States and is also informally linked with The New Indian Express (a daily from South India) and the Milli GazetteThe Milli Gazette
Milli Gazette is an English-language compact newspaper in India that describes itself as Indian Muslims' Leading English Newspaper. Feature articles generally cover global news concerning Muslims, focusing specially on Indian Muslim issues....
(a fortnightly)[2][3]. In addition to several articles written by Nilofar having been rated as the top stories, her work has also been commended for excellence in journalism.(http://www.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-annouces-finalists-of-journalism-for-tolerance-prize-in-south-asia)
Nilofar has written for various radio services and has also been interviewed by radio as well as television services, including the AIR, BBC, Voice of America, Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
News Service, Zee News, CNN-IBN news, Sahara TV, E-TV Urdu and others. She has spoken at various national and international seminars on issues linked with role of media, terrorism as well as nuclear diplomacy. Her specializations include Communications Research and Nuclear Diplomacy. She has been listed in 14th and 15th editions of International Authors and Writers’ Who’s Who, International Biographical Center, UK.
She is best known for writing pieces on controversial issues[4][5]. She criticized the American media for having labelled the Indian Hindu community as “terrorists” for demolishing the Babari Masjid in 1992 which led to nation-wide riots in India.
Awards and commendations
- Suhrawardy’s article “Why we are all not terrorists” published in The Indian Express (September 10, 2003) was commended by International Federation of Journalists for Excellence in Journalism Combating Racism and Discrimination in 2004.
- Her regular columns for The Milli Gazette and The Muslim Observer have been rated as the their major plus points. Regarding the Milli Gazette, it has been written: “Another hidden gem of MG is ‘Speaking Out’ column by Nilofar Suhrawardy.”
Notable works
- http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article1033.html
- http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=117047&d=7&m=12&y=2008
- http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article1100.html
External links
- http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2003%20Opinion%20Editorials/October/28%20o/Have%20Bush%20and%20Blair%20sold%20their%20anti-Iraq%20argument%20Nilofar%20Suhrawardy.htm
- http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/print.aspx?artid=ZN8U8|9pZ38=
- http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/print.aspx?artid=BjaPcjiZCS4=
- http://www.indiarightsonline.com/Sabrang/gender.nsf/9ad8c95d52b7d568e5256abc00320f4c/d4e9f15e91ed9b82e5256f7e003f3351?OpenDocument
- http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=The%20%E2%80%98other%E2%80%99%20Gandhi%20has%20made%20a%20fool%20of%20himself&artid=W344yyXLmZU=&type=
- http://www.expressindia.com/news/election/fullestory.php?type=ie&content_id=42061
- http://www.arabnews.com/page=9§ion=0&article=10065&d=25&m=10&y=2001&pix=community.jpg&category=Features
- http://www.unitedsikhs.org/news/10-02-2004-03.htm
- http://stringersworld.blogspot.com/2008/03/great-failures.html