Fathimath Saeed

Fathimath Saeed (17 March 1916 – c. 1990), often referred to as The white rain lily garden of the Maldivian poetry, 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. While also serving as the first lady, she served as the spouse of the prime minister of the Maldives from April 1951 to August 1953.

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
Occupation(s)	Poet, writer
Political party	Muthagaddim (1951–1953)
Spouse	Mohamed Amin Didi ​ ​ (m. 1930; died 1954)​
Children	3
Parents	Husain Salahuddin Tuttu Goma
Relatives	Ibrahim Shihab (brother)
1st First Lady of the Maldives
In role 1 January 1953 – 21 August 1953
President	Mohamed Amin Didi
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Naseema Mohamed
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

Fathimath Saeed was born in Fura Malé. She was the daughter of the then–attorney general Hussain Salahuddine, the greatest poet and writer in the Maldivian history. At a very young age, she married Mohamed Amin Didi, the grandson of then–prime minister Ibrahim Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaan. Their first two sons did not survive—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. Although her husband married two other women, Saeed remained as the most important of his wives. She became a widow in 1954 when Amin died from injuries sustained during an assassination attempt by a mob and to overthrow his government.

In her poetic career, Saeed was known as one of the greatest women poets in the Maldives, and was given the nickname "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 attorney general Hussain Salahuddine and his wife Tuttu Goma. Born into a family of well–known poets, Saeed was the daughter of Salahuddine and the eldest child from his second wife Tuttu Goma. 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, along with husband Amin, daughter and brother Adnan

Saeed's only marriage was to Mohamed Amin Didi, whom later became the first president of the Maldives and prime minister. They married in 1930 and had three children. Their first two sons did not survive—one was stillborn, and the other died at six days old. Their third child, and only daughter, Ameena Mohamed Amin, was the only one who survived.

Poetry career

Known by her nickname white rain lily in her career, Saeed was one of the greatest women 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.