Rehana Fathima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rehana Fathima
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Fathima, with body art, celebrating the Hindu festival Puli Kali among a mostly-male group. (Kerala; 2016)
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AS Fathima
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Surya Gayatri |
| Education | MCA |
| Children | 2 |
Rehana Fathima, also known as Suryagayathri, is an Indian women’s rights activist from Kerala.
Early life and education
Rehana Fathima Pyarijaan Sulaiman was born into an orthodox Muslim family. Her father Pyarijaan Sulaiman died when she was in Class 12. She has a sister.
Fathima completed B.Com and MCA degrees with first rank from Indira Gandhi National Open University.
Career
Fathima worked as a telecommunications technician with BSNL until May 2020, when she was forced to take compulsory retirement.
Fathima also modelled, before becoming a women’s rights activist. Rehana has also acted in a Malayalam film titled 'Eka' written and directed by her husband Manoj K Sreedhar, who is a poet and graduate from Pune film institute.
Activism
Sabarimala temple
For centuries, females of childbearing age (approx. age 10–50) have been banned from worshipping at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, India. Some devotees believe that the resident deity is practising celibacy and women who can carry children may sway him from his vow. In September 2018, after a 20-year legal challenge, the Supreme Court of India lifted the ban. The Quint reported "While pronouncing the judgment, CJI Misra said a woman is not inferior to a man and patriarchy cannot be permitted to win over faith, while Justice Chandrachud said to treat women as children of a lesser god is to blink at the Constitution itself."
According to Scroll.in, in October 2018, Fathima was one of two women of childbearing age who almost were the first to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala after the Supreme Court allowed the entry of women of all ages to pray there. The two women were escorted by eighty police officers in riot gear, but were blocked by a group of about 300 people at the sacred steps to the shrine. The Quint, The News Minute and India Today reported that afterwards, Fathima's home was vandalized.
Personal life
Rehana Fathima's other name is Surya Gayatri. She has two children with her partner Manoj.
In January 2021, Fathima's ex-partner, Manoj K. Sreedhar said that he and Fathima were separating.
