Rasheed Jehan

A trailblazing Indian musician and composer who revolutionized classical music and women's roles in the arts.

Rasheed Jehan (1905–1983) was an Indian musician, composer, and social activist whose work redefined classical music in India and empowered women in the arts. Born in Allahabad, she began her career as a vocalist in the 1920s, blending Hindustani classical traditions with modern compositions. She co-founded the Apex Music School in 1930, which trained women in classical singing and challenged the male-dominated music scene. Rasheed also composed the iconic song “Aao Bachchon Tumhe Dikhai Denge” for the 1942 Quit India Movement, using music as a tool for political mobilization. Her collaboration with her sister, poet and activist Begum Akhtar, produced influential works that addressed women’s empowerment and social justice. In the 1950s, she became the first woman to head the Indian Society of Music and the Performing Arts, advocating for women’s representation in cultural institutions. Rasheed’s legacy lives on through her recordings and her advocacy for gender equality in the arts. Explore her contributions at Wikipedia or Indian Music Archive.