Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain

A Bangladeshi feminist writer and educator who founded the first school for Muslim girls in British India.

Rokheya Shakhawat Hossain (1880–1932), known as Begum Rokeya, was a visionary educator and feminist who transformed women's education in Bengal. Born in Rangpur (now Bangladesh), she rebelled against purdah practices by secretly learning Urdu and English. Her 1906 essay 'Secluded Women' exposed the harms of gender oppression, while her 1916 novel 'Sultana's Dream' imagined a utopian society governed by women in a futuristic Bangladesh.

In 1911, Hussain established the Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhagalpur, one of the first institutions providing modern education to Muslim girls. This groundbreaking initiative challenged religious and cultural barriers, emphasizing science, mathematics, and vocational training alongside traditional subjects. By 1921, she had expanded her efforts with the Bharat Stree Shiksha Samiti (Indian Women's Education Society), creating a nationwide network of schools.

Her 1926 speech 'The Secluded Women of the East' at the All-India Muslim Ladies Conference became a manifesto for gender equality. Hussain also founded Anjuman-e-Khawateen-e-Islam (Muslim Women's Association) in 1916 to promote women's rights through education and economic empowerment. Her writings, published in Mottafakker Mohammadi and Sangbad Patrika, remain influential in feminist discourse.

Hussain's legacy endures through the Rokeya Hall for girls in Comilla and the Rokeya Padak national award. Explore her works at the Bangladesh Government Portal or the Bangladesh Literature Portal.