BEGUM ROKEYA SAKHAWAT HOSSAIN

Informative article by Tanya Gupta

In the early 20th century, Bengali society was essentially conservative, with rigid gender roles that restricted women’s opportunities and rights. Practices such as purdah—the social and physical seclusion of women, often involving the covering of their bodies and faces with a veil to maintain modesty—were prevalent, limiting women’s access to public life and self-expression. At the same time, British colonial rule introduced new educational frameworks and social ideas, though they often did not address the needs of women. Amid this backdrop, calls for women’s emancipation began to grow, influenced by both global feminist movements and local reformist thought. The struggle for women’s rights in Bengal, therefore, was not just a fight against patriarchal traditions but also a reaction to the colonial and cultural pressures that shaped the lives of women. This context laid the foundation for the emergence of key figures who would challenge these boundaries and push for greater gender equality, one of these figures being Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain.

Hossain, a visionary social reformer and feminist from Bengal, is remembered as one of the pioneering voices in the struggle for women's rights in South Asia. Born in the late 19th century, she defied the restrictive norms of her time and devoted her life to advocating for the education and empowerment of women. Through her writing, activism, and unwavering commitment to social justice, Begum Rokeya challenged the societal structures that confined women to limited roles and fought for their right to equality and self-determination. Her legacy, particularly her advocacy for women's education and her forward-thinking ideas on gender equality, continues to resonate today, making her a trailblazer in the feminist movement of South Asia. This essay explores Begum Rokeya’s profound impact on women’s rights and her enduring influence on the pursuit of gender equality. 

Born in a village called Pairaband, which is now known as Rangpur, her father was a well-educated landowner with a key interest in education. However, he followed the strict rule of purdah for the women of the family, and due to his beliefs, he allowed her brothers to get an education but not her. Rokeya and her older sister, Karimunnessa, developed a keen interest in learning both Bengali and English. Their older brother, Ibrahim, significantly impacted their intellectual growth, teaching them the two languages in secret during the night when the rest of the household was asleep to avoid raising suspicion. Rokeya married at a young age to Khan Bahadur Sakhawat Hossain, a much older man who was then the deputy magistrate of Bhagalpur. Despite the age difference, he supported her pursuit of education, helping her refine her skills in Bengali and English. With time, she became fluent in both languages. Her husband also encouraged her to write, and it was under his guidance that Rokeya chose Bengali as the main language for her literary work. 

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain's achievements had a profound and lasting impact on both women's education and the broader social landscape of Bengal. In addition to her pioneering feminist and many anti-colonial writings, most notably her utopian short story Sultana’s Dream, she made remarkable strides in advancing women's rights. After the death of her husband, she founded the Sakhawat Memorial Girls’ School in Kolkata, which was the first school for Muslim girls in India, providing them with the opportunity to receive formal education in a deeply conservative society. Despite her personal life being plagued by profound tragedies, including the early death of her husband and the loss of her two infant daughters, as well as facing immense hardship, including harsh criticisms and numerous obstacles in her efforts to bring about social change for women, she remained determined and dedicated, working until her last breath to improve the disadvantaged status of women. She tirelessly advocated for women's education and empowerment, chairing the Bengal Women’s Education Conference, which sought to unite Indian women in their struggle for educational rights, and establishing the Anjuman-e-Khawateen-e-Islam (Muslim Women's Society).  Through the Muslim Women’s Society, an organization working tirelessly to support the education and employment of women, she was at the forefront of the fight for women’s rights, as its members sponsored women's attendance at school, gave shelter to orphans, and offered legal and financial assistance to widows. Beginning with Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, this movement laid the foundation for the vibrant and politically progressive feminist movement that thrives in modern-day Bangladesh.

Through her numerous literary works, including Matichur and Abarodhbasini, Hossain boldly confronted the deeply entrenched systems of patriarchy, colonialism, and religious extremism. With a compelling combination of logic, imagination, indignation, and sharp wit, she argued passionately for gender equality, asserting that women’s education was an essential tool in overcoming not only patriarchal social norms but also the pervasive forces of colonial oppression, classism, and religious extremism. In her writings, Hossain vividly illustrated how these forces combined to limit women’s potential and freedom. She also fiercely critiqued the extreme practices of purdah, which, in her view, stripped women of their individuality, eroded their sense of self, and denied them their basic humanity. Through her insightful and revolutionary ideas, Hossain highlighted the need for societal change, advocating for a world where women could access education, live freely, and contribute equally to society. Her works continue to resonate as powerful calls for social justice, equality, and empowerment.

Begum Rokeya's legacy as a self-educated and self-reliant woman with a progressive and transformative feminist vision is still significant today. Her pioneering efforts in advocating for gender equality, particularly in the context of colonial Bengal, were groundbreaking and defied the traditional norms of her time. Through her writings and activism, she not only championed the rights of women but also urged them to prepare themselves to claim those rights, thus playing a crucial role in shaping a more just and equitable society. She worked tirelessly to uplift women, encouraging them to break free from the constraints of patriarchal views. Her efforts to ignite a sense of renaissance and self-empowerment in women, motivating them to embrace their freedom, remain a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of education and activism in the pursuit of gender equality.