Muslim childhood in a syncretic world

• Syeda Saiyidain Hameed’s memoir, A Drop in the Ocean (Speaking Tiger), offers insights into her Indian past of communal amity.

• Hameed’s writing style is characterized by her ability to capture the warmth and love she experienced.

• She is a social activist and writer who has a fine memory and a way with words.

• Hameed’s mentors include Khushwant Singh, who shared his skills with aspiring writers.

• Hameed’s journey began with her participation in a beauty pageant, where she was able to stand out and win the number four position.

• Her true calling came when she entered public life, joining the National Commission for Women and Planning Commission.

• Hameed’s house in Delhi was filled with books in Urdu, Persian, and English, with works by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Allama Iqbal, and Maulana Hali.

• She also became a translator, editing four centenary volumes to commemorate Maulana Azad’s birth centenary.

• Hameed’s life was filled with messages of meaning, hope, and dreams, which she continued to emit through her literary work.