Begum Rokeya Biography 
Begum Rokeya was a Bengali writer, thinker, educationist and social activist who lived in pre-independent era. Widely regarded as the pioneer of women's education in the Indian subcontinent during British rule, Rokeya was ranked number 6 in BBC's poll of the Greatest Bengali of All Time in 2006. She is the only female to find her name in the list of top 20. Bangladesh observes Rokeya Day on 9 December, her birth/death anniversary every year. Associated with Women’s right literary movement, Sultana's Dream, Padmarag, Abarodhbasini, Matichur etc are some of her major works as an author. Begum Rokeya Padak has been instituted by Bangladesh government for the women achievers of the country. Born on 9 December 1880, she passed away exactly on her 52th birthday.
Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was born on 9 December 1880 in Pairaband, Mithapukur Upazila, Rangpur district of present-day Bangladesh. She belonged to a Zamindar family of Bengal. Her father, Jahiruddin Muhammad Abu Ali Haidar Saber was married 4 times. Noted writer and social worker Karimunnesa Khanam Chaudhurani was one among her elder sisters, and she had a great influence on Rokeya’s life since young. Rokeya's eldest brother Ibrahim Saber also had a great influence on her life, who taught both the sisters Bengali language, when they wanted to learn so. In those days Muslim families mostly taught Arabic and Persian languages. Later the sisters became famous writers in Bengali language.
Rokeya married Khan Bahadur Sakhawat Hussain at the age of eighteen in 1898. He served as the deputy magistrate of Bhagalpur. They had a good age gap of 20 years. He married Rokeya after the death of his first wife. But he was a liberal person who encouraged her to learn and write. On his advice she adopted Bengali as the principal language for her literary works. Rokeya is considered as the pioneer feminist of Bengal, and a very leading cultural figure of Bangladesh. Many universities, public buildings and National Award have been named after her. She died at a comparatively young age of 52 on her birthday. Till her death she was fully active in social life.
Published: September 29, 2018
Updated: September 29, 2018
