Shamsunnahar Mahmud

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Born 1908
Feni District
Died 1964
Education Diocesan College of Calcutta
Occupation writer, politician and educator
Spouse Wahiuddin Mahmud

Shamsunnahar Mahmud (Bengali: শামসুন্নাহার মাহমুদ) (1908 – 1964) was a writer, politician and educator in Bengal during the early 20th century. She was a leader of Islamic feminism in Bengal after the death of Roquia Sakhawat Hussain[1].

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[edit] Early life

Her father, Mohammad Nurullah, was a Munsiff the son of Khan Bahadur Abdul Aziz and the father of Habibullah Bahar Chowdhury, who was Mahmud's brother. She was born in 1908 in Feni District.

Her childhood was spent in purdah in Chittagong. She had a male Hindu tutor, but a cloth wall was set between them during teaching[2] Shamsunnahar commenced her studies at Khastagir Girls' High School in Chittagong, and matriculated in 1926 as an independent student. In 1927, she married Wahiuddin Mahmud, who pushed his wife to pursue further studies. She received her I.A. in 1928 and B.A. in 1932 at the Diocesan College of Calcutta. After receiving the B.A., her achievement was commemorated in a reception held for her at the Sakhawat Memorial High School. In this reception, Roquia Sakhawat Hussain herself extolled her achievements as both pioneering and honorable[3]. In 1942 she completed her M.A. in the Bengali language[4]. After her studies she joined a feminist movement pioneered by Roquia Sakhawat Hussain, a prominent social reformer[5].

[edit] Career

Her career began as she taught the Bengali language at Lady Brabourne College. While domiciled in Kolkatta, she became acquainted with Kazi Nazrul Islam, and the latter inspired to former to begin writing.

She worked as the secretary for the Nikhil Banga Muslim Mahila Samity ("All Bengal Muslim Women's Society"). She visited Turkey and the Middle East as a representative of East Pakistan in 1952. She led a delegation to the International Council of Women in Colombo and joined the International Friendship Organization as Asia's regional director and made visits to several Western countries, including the United States, England, France, and Italy. In 1961, she established a Center for Disabled children and was elected to the National Assembly in 1962[4].

[edit] Works

[edit] Magazines

  • Angur (Grapes)
  • Naoroz (New Dawn)
  • Atmashakti(Self-strength[6])
  • Bulbul, 1933

[edit] Other works

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Banu 135
  2. ^ Amin 158
  3. ^ Amin 159
  4. ^ a b Mahmud, Shamsunnahar Banglapedia
  5. ^ History in black and white The Hindu - February 1, 2007
  6. ^ Glossary of Sanskrit Terms in Integral Yoga Literature - Integral Yoga
  7. ^ Papanek 39

[edit] References

  • Amin, Sonia. The World of Muslim Women in Colonial Bengal, 1876-1939. BRILL, 1996. ISBN 9004106421
  • Banu, U. A. B. Razia Akter.Islam in Bangladesh. BRILL, 1992. ISBN 9004094970
  • Papanek, Hanna.Sultana's Dream: And Selections from the Secluded Ones. Feminist Press, 1988. ISBN 0935312838