Abida Ahmed

Begum Abida Ahmed (17 July 1923 – 7 December 2003) was an Indian politician, artist, and social activist, notable for her role as the First Lady of India from 1974 to 1977, as the wife of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the fifth President of India. She was later a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, representing the Bareilly parliamentary constituency of Uttar Pradesh. Abida Ahmed was born on 17 July 1923 in Sheikhupur, Badaun, Uttar Pradesh. She grew up in a politically engaged environment, which shaped her future interests in public service and activism. She pursued her education at the Women's College, Aligarh and the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. There she excelled academically and demonstrated an interest in national and international affairs. Her early exposure to politics and social issues inspired her to pursue a career in public life. She married her husband Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on 9 November 1945. Their marriage was arranged while Ali Ahmed was in prison and Abida Ahmed in college. In 1957 Abida Ahmed travelled with her husband and relocated to New York City as part of her husband's assignment to the United Nations.