Begum Rokeya

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, born in 1880 in British India, was a writer and social activist. She was one of the leading voices of the feminist movement in Bengal and is considered a pioneer of Bengali women’s literature. Her most famous books include “Sultana’s Dream,” a science fiction story where women are in charge of society and men are kept in seclusion, and “Pipasha,” a collection of short stories depicting the struggles of women in a patriarchal society.

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain founded the first school for Muslim girls in Kolkata in 1911 and later established the Muslim Women’s Association in 1916. Her writings focused on issues like women’s education, gender equality, and social reform. Begum Rokeya passed away in 1932, but her legacy as a feminist icon and advocate for women’s rights continues to inspire generations.