Amina Cachalia: Championing women's rights

Cachalia's championing of political causes and women's rights evolved with a sense of familial preordination.

Born in South Africa, Amina Cachalia's championing of political causes and women's rights evolved with a sense of familial preordination. She is the founder of Women's Progressive Union to foster training, development skills and financial independence of women.

HT Image

Actively involved with the ANC and other political movements, she suffered continuous ban orders from 1963 to 1980, which ran concurrently with her husband Yusuf's 27 years ban order and 10 years of house arrest.

She was an ANC candidate elect for the National Assembly after the first democratic elections in South Africa and was offered diplomatic assignments, which she did not accept due to family commitments.

Cachalia is recognised for her outstanding contributions towards enhancing the image and understanding of India through her sustained activities in the political field.