Meet Simi Kamal.

Simi Kamal, in all her courageous glory, is one of Pakistan’s strongest feminists.

To say that Simi Kamal is a powerhouse of a woman is an understatement.

She is a brave and incredibly strong activist, advocating especially for equality between the sexes. Moreover, she is also the Chief of Party of the USAID-sponsored Gender Equity Program. Recently, in a conversation with Express Tribune, Simi talked about how she got where she is and everything that drove her to be the woman she’s become.  

The family she’s from is one that has been involved in voluntary work and activism. She caught on to that as a child. She started off by knitting for soldiers in during the 1971 war and writing letters for prisoners.

From a very young age, she noticed how society favored men more and there was a certain level of discrimination that women faced. As a result, she became an active part of feminist organizations like Tehreek-e-Niswan and Women Action Forum. She was heavily opposed to the treatment of women in our society and how they were talked about in public settings as well.  As a writer, researcher, and orator, she focused on speaking up against these issues on various platforms.

In her interview, Simi Kamal talks about what she considers to be her biggest achievement:

“I think it’s what I have been able to do — intellectual contribution to the whole debate on women’s rights in Pakistan. I think that’s one of my biggest achievements because I am a writer, researcher and I speak a lot.”

Moreover, she has helped establish the careers of countless struggling girls, which she goes on to discuss:

“I have also helped numerous girls establish careers, perhaps hundreds of them. I’m very happy to be able to help young women feel confident and get them on track so they can be economically independent.”

 

However, since she’s also a geographer, she’s contributed to the water sector as well.

She’s a member of the Global Water Partnership Technical Committee. Moreover, she’s a founder of the Hisaar Foundation and co-founder of Pani Pakistan. So when she isn’t being one of Pakistan’s strongest feminists, she’s also trying to save the environment.

A firm believer in practicing what she preaches, her children have been raised in a way where they have an equal standing at home:

“I have brought my children up in a very different way, keeping my daughter and my sons absolutely equal.”

Simi’s own divorce helps her empathize with women who are struggling.

Though getting a divorce is still a taboo in numerous social circles, Simi started thinking about all those women who struggled once their marriages didn’t work out. her primary concern pertained to whether they would find shelters. She realizes that she had a way out – something countless women do not. Though she makes it clear that her divorce was not traumatic, the fact that she took the step unwaveringly says a lot about her mettle.

Undoubtedly, our society needs more bold feminists like Simi Kamal who aren’t afraid to speak their minds and work tirelessly towards change and a better tomorrow.

What do you think of Simi Kamal and her contribution to our society? Let us know in the comments.

Cover image: educationist.com.pk