Who is Benazir Suraiya?

Who is Benazir Suraiya?

Benazir Suraiya is a senior communications and stakeholder engagement officer at Transport for NSW,  where she works on various projects related to public transport, roads, maritime and freight. She is also a passionate animal rights activist and a former media and celebrity projects coordinator for PETA India, where she was involved in many campaigns to raise awareness and compassion for animals.

Early life and education

Benazir Suraiya was born and raised in Guwahati, Assam, where she developed a love for animals and nature. She moved to Delhi to pursue her higher education, graduating with a specialisation in Sociology from Hindu
College, followed by post-graduate work in Public Relations and Advertising from a private institute.

Career and achievements

Benazir Suraiya started her career as a PR professional at Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick, one of the world's foremost PR firms. However, she soon decided to use her skills and knowledge for a more meaningful cause – animal rights. She joined PETA India in 2010 as a media and celebrity projects coordinator, where she was responsible for ensuring that PETA's message had a strong media presence in the country.

During her tenure at PETA India, Benazir Suraiya was involved in many innovative and eye-catching PR strategies to draw attention to the plight of animals. Some of her notable campaigns include:

- Dressing up as a Valentine Angel and distributing red roses to urge people to love animals and go vegetarian.

- Joining other women in colourful uniforms outside the Cricket World Cup 2011 games, to urge the use of synthetic balls over those made from cruelly produced leather.

- Dressing up as a mermaid and lying on a fishing net to protest against the fishing industry's cruelty to marine animals.

- Appearing in ads with celebrities like John Abraham, Shahid Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Jacqueline Fernandez, Raveena Tandon and others to promote animal-friendly lifestyles.

Benazir Suraiya also faced some challenges and controversies during her work for PETA India. In 2014, she was attacked by a mob in Bhopal for calling on Muslims to go vegan on Eid. She had placed her request at one of Asia's largest mosques – Taj-ul-Masjid – wearing a green hijab. She was roughed up by the protestors and had to be whisked away by the police. Despite the incident, she remained committed to her cause and said that she would continue to speak up for animals.

In 2017, Benazir Suraiya moved to Australia and joined Transport for NSW as a senior communications and stakeholder engagement officer. She is currently working on various projects related to public transport, roads, maritime and freight. She is also an active member of IAP2 Australasia, an association of professionals in the field of public participation.

Personal life and interests

Benazir Suraiya is married and lives in Parramatta, New South Wales. She is a vegan and enjoys cooking, reading, travelling and spending time with her family and friends. She is also an avid animal lover and has adopted several rescued dogs over the years.

Conclusion

Benazir Suraiya is a remarkable woman who has dedicated her life and career to making a positive difference in the world. She is an inspiration for anyone who wants to follow their passion and stand up for what they believe in. She is also a role model for young women who want to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.

Source: 

(1) Benazir Suraiya - IAP2 Australasia. https://iap2.org.au/speakers/benazir-suraiya/.

(2) Bringing animal rights into the limelight, by PETA India’s Benazir Suraiya. https://www.prmoment.in/opinion/bringing-animal-rights-into-the-limelight-by-peta-indias-benazir-suraiya.

(3) Benazir Suraiya: Latest News, Videos and Photos of Benazir Suraiya .... https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/benazir-suraiya.

(4) Crowd violently attacks PETA volunteer for asking them to go 'Vegan .... https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/crowd-violently-attacks-peta-volunteer-for-asking-them-to-go-ve-42308.html.