The nation observes Begum Rokeya Day today, marking the 145th birth and 93rd death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, one of the subcontinent’s earliest and most influential advocates of women’s rights, education, and social reform.
Women and Children Affairs Ministry, Begum Rokeya Foundation, and various socio-cultural and political organisations have arranged elaborate programmes to mark the day.
Across the country, government institutions, private organisations, socio-cultural bodies, political groups, and educational establishments have prepared a range of programmes, including seminars, cultural discussions, essay competitions, and special events highlighting Rokeya’s contributions to gender equality.
Many women’s rights groups are also holding rallies and policy dialogues focusing on the state of female education and empowerment in the country today.
On the eve of the observance, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus issued a message, reflecting on Rokeya’s enduring legacy.
“Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain brought the women’s community from darkness to light through a massive social movement for women’s liberation and human rights,” he said. “The nation will forever remember her outstanding contribution to establishing the women of this region in a position of due dignity.”
He added, “Today, on the occasion of Begum Rokeya Day, I pay deep respect to the memory of this great woman.”
Born on December 9,1880 in Pairaband of Rangpur, Rokeya passed away on the same date in 1932, leaving behind a remarkable body of work and a legacy that has shaped the modern women’s movement in South Asia.
A pioneering writer, Rokeya believed firmly in the principle that men and women should enjoy equal rights and equal opportunities in education.
Her literary works, Matichur, Oborodh Basini, Sultana’s Dream, Padmarag, and others, offered bold critiques of gender inequality and exposed the harsh realities of purdah, confinement, and social restrictions faced by women of her time. Sultana’s Dream, in particular, remains a landmark feminist utopian fiction that continues to be studied globally.
Her activism extended far beyond writing. Determined to change lives on the ground, Rokeya founded the first school for Muslim girls in Patna in 1916 and later the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in Kolkata, which gained a reputation as one of the earliest institutions dedicated to modern female education in the region. Rokeya personally visited households to convince parents that educating daughters was not a threat to tradition but a path to progress.
She worked tirelessly to advance women’s rights, organizing women through the Anjuman-e-Khawatin-e-Islam (Association of Muslim Women) and advocating for legal reforms, financial independence, and social mobility for women.
Her essays and journalism, published in Saogat, Mohammadi, Nabaprabha, Mahila, Bharatmahila, Al-Eslam, Nawroz, Mahe Nao, Bangiya Musalman Sahitya Patrika, The Mussalman, and Indian Ladies Magazine, ignited new conversations around gender justice. Many of her articles continue to be referenced in academic research, policy studies, and feminist discourse today.
On this year’s Begum Rokeya Day, scholars, educators, and rights activists emphasise her continued relevance at a time when women’s education, workplace safety, political participation, and equal opportunities remain pressing national priorities. Educational institutions across the country are also holding special lessons to introduce younger generations to Rokeya’s life and work, ensuring her legacy remains alive in the minds of future changemakers.
MHK