Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain

Pioneering feminist and educator who challenged gender norms in colonial India through her writings and schools for girls

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain (1880-1932) was a Bengali writer, educator, and social reformer who became one of the most prominent advocates for women's rights in colonial India during the early 20th century. Born into an aristocratic Muslim family in Rangpur (now in Bangladesh), she defied societal expectations by pursuing education despite strong cultural opposition against women's learning.

Her groundbreaking work "The Sultana's Dream" (1905) - a science fiction short story - imagined a gender-reversed utopia where women governed society and men were confined to domestic roles. This satirical critique of patriarchal norms made her one of the earliest female science fiction writers in the Indian subcontinent.

In 1911, she established the first school for Muslim girls in Bhagalpur, Bihar, which later expanded into a network of educational institutions. Her Sarvodaya School emphasized rational thinking and modern education, challenging traditional gender roles in education. She also published Sahir-ul-Akhbar, the first magazine in Bengali written by and for Muslim women.

Rokeya's advocacy extended to interfaith dialogue, promoting harmony between Hindu and Muslim communities through her writings. Her essay Amar Deher Katha (1926) remains a seminal text in feminist literature, critiquing the objectification of women's bodies in patriarchal societies.

Today her legacy is celebrated through the Rokeya Hall in Kolkata and the Rokeya Awards for women's empowerment. Her work laid critical foundations for later feminist movements in South Asia, though her contributions remain underrecognized globally.