Begum Rokeya l Pioneer Feminist founded the first school for Muslim girls l Ardhek Akash

Begum Rokeya (1880-1932), the pioneer feminist, writer, educator, social reformer- all rolled into one. Born in a village of Rangpur district (Bangladesh) in an aristocratic and conservative Muslim family, where only Persian and Urdu were spoken, she learnt Bengali and English from her elder sister and brother. From the age of five, she had to observe "purdah" even with women unknown to her. At 18 she was married off to Sakhawat Hossain, a 38 year old deputy magistrate, whose first wife had passed away. She travelled with her husband, and observing the plight of Muslim women realised the need for their education that would make them free. Her conjugal life was cut short by the untimely death of Sakhawat, who had suggested her to open a school for girls and had given her 10, 000 rupees. Within 5 months of his death she opened a school in Bhagalpur but her stepdaughter's misbehaviour forced her to leave and come to Calcutta. Here she opened a school named after her husband overcoming a lot of challenges, the only school for Muslim girls. Her defiance and antagonism towards the patriarchal society became apparent in her writings. Her first creative writing was " Sultana's Dream" written in perfect English was the story of an imaginary land where men were in confinement while the women moved about freely. Her belief that women needed to discard their patriarchal shackles and get educated to be at par with men, even earn a living is reflected in the story " Padmarag". "Motichur" comprising "Streejatir Abanati", "Niriho Bangali", " Abarodhbasini" are some other bold, remarkable writings. She believed that women should learn all subjects including science, music and art. She criticised formal religion as it was nothing but rules to suit men. She even condemned parochialism and claimed that we are Indians first and then Muslim, Hindu, Christian and so on.Begum Rokeya passed away suddenly at the age of 52 in 1933. #history #19thcentury #19thcenturyhistory #ardhekakash #autobiography #calcutta #education #bengal #Muslim #muslimgirl #muslimwoman #explore #bhagalpur #sakhawat #feminism #feminist #feministicon #school #girlsschool #conservative #purdah #emancipation