This is a short compilation of six Muslim women from Bihar who have played roles in different capacities in developing the state and the nation.
Siddiqa Khatoon: In 1922, when Bi Amma, mother of Ali brothers, and Amjadi Begum, wife of Mohammad Ali, came to Bihar to raise funds for the Non-Cooperation Movement on the call of Mahatma Gandhi they met Siddiqa Khatoon of Munger. Her husband Shah Muhmmad Zubair was already a distinguished leader of Congress and had already braved British prisons in India. Khatoon toured across Bihar to raise the funds, an act which was appreciated by Gandhi himself. In 1930, along with her husband, Khatoon plunged into the Civil Disobedience Movement called by Gandhi. After Zubair was imprisoned for breaking the salt laws, she took up the leadership in her hand. She addressed meetings, led women and broke the law publicly. The life of this freedom fighter from Bihar was cut short after her husband died in jail in 1930, allegedly by poisoning. She died within a few months after hearing the news of his death.
Naima Khatoon Haider: Born in 1913, Naima Khatoon Haider was married to Syed Raza Haider, a nephew of Sir Sultan. She was elected to the Bihar Legislative Council at a young age of 23 in 1937. Her role in social work among women won her praise from political opponents as well. The communal riots which Bihar witnessed in 1946 moved her deeply and she rendered her services to rehabilitate the victims. In 1952, she was elected to the Bihar Legislative Council again, this time in free India. The council elected her as its speaker on 12 May 1952, thus making her the first woman to hold this post. Later, she served as a minister in the government. She died young on 24 July 1957.
Mahmooda Sami: Born to the Congress leader Syed Hasan Imam and Muniba Hasan, she received her education in Europe. In 1930, she actively took part in the Civil Disobedience Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. Mahmooda toured through Bihar, addressed public meetings and organised agitations. The British government fined Mahmooda for breaking the salt law but, a committed Congress worker, she denied paying any fine. She died of heartbreak after her husband, Barrister Abdul Sami, died in 1934.
Begum Aziza Fatima Imam: Born to Dr. Wali Ahmad (a professor at Patna Medical College) and Khadija Ahmad, Aziza Fatima was adopted by her maternal aunt Lady Anis Imam. Coming from a progressive family, she wrote articles on women rights and other social issues. Later she edited a magazine, Subah-i-Nau, and served as Chairman of Bihar State Social Advisory Board in 1964. For her literary services, Aziza Fatima was nominated to Rajya Sabha in 1973, where she served two terms. She was a convenor of All India Congress Women’s Front and served at several other committees. She breathed her last on 22 July 1996.
Ahmadi Sattar: Born on 2 February 1928, Ahmadi Sattar studied at Arrah and Patna before pursuing law at AMU, Aligarh. She started practicing at Patna High Court as a lawyer and took active part in the women rights movement. Ahmadi was associated with the All India Women’s Council and Bharat Sevak Samaj. From 1958 till 1978, she served as a member of the Bihar Legislative Council for 18 years. She was one of the most vocal voices on women related issues in Bihar.
Rashid-un-Nisa: Born in 1853, Rashid-un-Nisa, was the first woman to write a novel in Urdu. Rashid-un-Nisa wrote the novel Islah-un-Nisa in 1881 but had to wait till her son Barrister Sulaiman returned from England after getting a degree in Law. In 1894 when the novel was first published it did not have the name of Rashid-un-Nisa as its author. Rather, which seems funny today, tragically the author was mentioned as : Mother of Barrister Sulaiman, Daughter of Syed Wahiduddin Khan Bahadur and sister of Imdad Imam. Imagine, the first woman to get published in Urdu was not even allowed to mention her name in the book. She later started a school for girls in 1906 as well.
