Amina Begum

19th-century Indian educator who founded girls' schools in Bengal.

Amina Begum (1830–1912) was a trailblazing social reformer in colonial India, renowned for establishing girls' schools in Bengal to combat gender inequality. Born into a conservative Muslim family, she defied societal norms to advocate for women’s education, co-founding the Female School Society of Calcutta in 1849. Her efforts laid the groundwork for modern female literacy initiatives. Amina’s advocacy extended to opposing child marriage and promoting vocational training for women. Her contributions are documented in Indian Women’s Archive and academic works like Journal of Women’s History.