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0 Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880–1932), a visionary reformer and advocate for women’s rights, remains a beacon of hope for gender equality and education in South Asia. Born on December 9, 1880, in the Rangpur district of present-day Bangladesh, Rokeya challenged societal norms that restricted women’s access to education and opportunities.
Despite being born into a traditional Muslim family where formal education was often denied to women, Rokeya secretly learned reading and writing with the help of her brother. She understood early that breaking the cycle of oppression upon herself was only possible through education.
In 1911, Rokeya published her most important work in terms of feminist literature-the famous Sultana’s Dream-that envisioned a world where women reigned and men lived under domestic confines. The satirical nature of the story further points out the potentiality women could achieve if treated equitably with men.
Rokeya’s dedication towards education made her open Sakhawat Memorial Girls’ School in Kolkata in 1911. It was an open school for Muslim girls when the concept of opening schools for female Muslims was still a new beginning, empowering them to learn about knowledge and independence. She also organized the Anjuman-e-Khawateen-e-Islam (Muslim Women’s Association), which worked solely for the social and educational upliftment of women.
Begum Rokeya found a place in history for her untiring efforts in the struggle for women’s rights and education. She died on December 9, 1932, but the cause she had pursued has not stopped inspiring women anywhere in the world.
It is in light of this context that the life of Rokeya becomes a testament to gender parity in South Asia. Education and the dare to break norms make her contributions a milestone in the fight for women’s empowerment.
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