Satnam Mahmood

Satnam Mahmood (16 October 1921 – October 1995), also referred to as Satnam Mahmood Kaur and Nama, was a Pakistani radio broadcaster, public administrator, women's rights activist, and educationist.[1][2]

Mahmood was born Satnam Kaur in the city of Lahore in 1921 to Charan Singh, a novelist and journalist, and Sakina Singh.[1] She was married to Mahmood Ali Khan, a progressive independence activist. Her husband was the uncle of writer Tariq Ali.[1] After the establishment of Pakistan as an independent country, Mahmood became one of the first women to join the newly formed Pakistani civil service.[1] The service sent her to Harvard university as part of her training, where she received a Ph.D in education.[1] Mahmood Ali Khan died in 1961.[1] Shehla Zia, Mahmood's daughter, and Maliha Zia Lari, one of her granddaughters, are also prominent women's rights activists.[1][3][4]

Mahmood began working as a radio broadcaster in 1941, working in All-India Radio’s studio in Lahore. She became known for her broadcasts in Punjabi.[1] As a broadcaster, she was referred to by the nickname "Nama".[1] She also worked for the government, in areas related to women's education.[1] She wrote multiple books on public administration.[1] She taught in the Administrative Staff College, and also gave lectures elsewhere.[1] After he husband's death, Mahmood moved away from broadcasting, and focused on women's rights activism. She played a role in setting up an organisation called the "Women’s Action Forum".[1] She died of heart failure in Islamabad in October 1995.[1]