Fathimath Saeed

Fathimath Saeed
Saeed c. 1945–1952
Born	(1916-03-17)17 March 1916 Bageechage, Fura Malé, Maldive Islands
Died	1990(1990-00-00) (aged 73–74) Athireege, Malé, Maldives
Occupations	Poet, writer
Political party	Muthagaddim (1951–1953)
Spouse	Mohamed Amin Didi ​ ​ (m. 1930; died 1954)​
Children	3, including Ameena Mohamed Amin
Parents	Husain Salahuddin Medhuganduvaru Tuttu Goma
Relatives	Salahuddin family Family of Mohamed Amin Didi
1st First Lady of the Maldives
In role 1 January 1953 – 21 August 1953
President	Mohamed Amin Didi
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Mariyam Saeed
Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Maldives
In role 22 April 1951 – 21 August 1953
Prime Minister	Mohamed Amin Didi
Succeeded by	Aminiath Mohamed Didi

Al Nabeela Fathimath Saeed (17 March 1916 – c. 1990) was a Maldivian poet and writer who served as the inaugural first lady of the Maldives from January 1953 to August 1953, as the wife of president Mohamed Amin Didi. She simultaneously served as the spouse of the Prime Minister of the Maldives from April 1951 to August 1953.

Saeed was born in Fura Malé to Hussain Salahuddine, the then–attorney general and a great Maldivian poet and writer. At a young age, she married Amin, the grandson of then–prime minister Ibrahim Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaan. Their first two sons did not survive infancy—one was stillborn, and the other died at six days old. Their third child, daughter Ameena was the only one who lived throughout Saeed's lifespan. In 1954, Amin died from injuries sustained during an assassination attempt by a mob and to overthrow his government.

In her poetic career, Saeed was one of the greatest women poets in the Maldives and nicknamed "Dhivehi lhenverikamuge gulshanuge narugismaa" (the white rain lily garden of the Maldivian poetry).

Early life

Fathimath Saeed was born on 17 March 1916, to then–attorney general Hussain Salahuddine and his second wife Tuttu Goma. Born into a family of well–known poets, Saeed was the elder sister of influential poets and statesman Ibrahim Shihab, Adnan Hussain and Mariyam Saeed, who was the second wife of president Ibrahim Nasir.

Marriage and children

Saeed and Mohamed Amin Didi, who later became the first president of the Maldives and prime minister, married in 1930 and had three children. Their first two sons did not survive infancy—one was stillborn, and the other died at six days old. Their third child and only daughter, Ameena Mohamed Amin, outlived her parents and died in 2020.

Poetry career

Known by her nickname "white rain lily" in her career, Saeed was one of the greatest female poets in the Maldivian history. In 2022, the poets' day of Maldives was celebrated in memory of Saeed.

Awards

• 1982: Honorary Public Service Award in the field of Maldivian poetry.

Bibliography

• Habeeb, Habeeba Hussain (2001). "Dhivehi lhenverikamuge gulshanuge narugismaa Annabeelaa Fathimath Saeed" (PDF). Dhivehi Bahaai Thareekhah Khidhumaikuraa Qaumee Marukazu (Digital Repository of Maldives National University): 8. Retrieved 1 April 2001.

References