At a time when Bangalee society was backward and full of superstitions, she was the one who tried to help enlighten the Muslim women with education braving social barriers. Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain had herself mastered four languages -- Bangla, English, Urdu and Persian -- when getting the basic education was extremely tough for women. Her literary work "Sultana's Dream" is considered a milestone in feminist literature. In order to make sure that parents sent their daughters to school, Begum Rokeya used to go from house to house, wearing a burqa (veil). She sacrificed her own desires for worldly luxuries to build her school, "Sakhawat Memorial Girls High School" in Kolkata early in 1909. She was a feminist thinker, writer, educationist, social activist, advocate of women's rights, and widely regarded as the pioneer of women's education in the Indian subcontinent during the time of the British rule.
Banglaee women today might not have found some salvation and reached certain heights, had there been no Begum Rokeya. She is the pioneer of women empowerment. She made people understand that a nation cannot attain development goals depriving women of education. Despite the progress made in Bangladesh society, women still feel insecure in stepping out of home. We need women who work with spirit of Begum Rokeya and men who support the spirit and work for freedom of women from all social ills. We remember her contribution as we celebrate December 9, her birth and death anniversary, observed as Rokeya Dibash (day) across the country. We need to take lessons from the fighting spirit Begum Rokeya had shown at difficult times and should try to do our part from our respective positions for the progress of women.
Ipshita Kajuri
Student of North-South University, Dhaka,
chaitikajuri@gmail.com