Monday, August 20, 2018

Women in Science Fiction – Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain

Ruth de Jauregui

While many well-known women in science fiction are from the United States, pioneer utopian and feminist author Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was born in the British Indian Empire, in what is now known as Bangladesh. 

Her father was a successful landlord; like most upper class Muslims, she and her siblings were educated in Arabic and Persian. Her older sister, however, wanted to study Bengali, the language of the people. Their older brother taught the sisters both Bengali and English.

Rokeya married at 18. Her husband, Khan Bahadur Sakhawat Hussain, was the deputy magistrate of Bhagalpur. He encouraged Rokeya's studies and advised her to publish her work in Bengali, the language of the people.

Her book, actually more of a short story, Sultana's Dream (1908) was a utopian vision that reversed the sexes. Women were in charge and men were in purdah. It was first published in English in The Indian Ladies' Magazine in 1905.

Sultana's Dream was considered a fantastic satire at the time, despite the use of solar power and electricity in the story. A memorable quote from the story: "Men, who do or at least are capable of doing no end of mischief, are let loose and the innocent women, shut up in the zenana! How can you trust those untrained men out of doors?"

Rokeya wrote a second utopian novel after the death of her husband in 1908. Padmarag (Essence of the Lotus) was published in 1924. Once more, the book focused on a woman-led society.

Rokeya is best known as a writer and Muslim feminist – the leader of Islamic feminism. Her published works range from short stories to poems to essays to novels, published between 1902 and 1931.

After her husband's death, she started a high school for Muslim women in Bhugalpur, an Urdu-speaking area. She was forced to move the school after a dispute over property with her husband's family. The school was reestablished in Calcutta in 1911, where Bengali was the majority language. In addition to the school, which still exists, she founded the Islamic Women's Association.

Her life and work is still celebrated in Bangladesh. Behum Rokeya Day commemorates her birth and death anniversary on December 9. A national award in her name is given to women for achievement every year. The Begum Rokeya Memorial Center, Begum Rokeya University and the largest female residential hall at Dhaka University, Rokeya Hall, all carry her name.

Read Sultana's Dream here
Amazon Search for Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain

#WomenInScienceFiction  #RuthDJ  #BegumRokeyaSakhawatHossain  #OurAuthorGang

COMMENTS



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Tricia Drammeh via Google+

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
The latest installment in the Women in Science Fiction series on #OurAuthorGang
 

Rebecca Tran

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a remarkable woman and author. I think we all dream of making an impact but few of us do and even less on her level. Thanks for the reminder that we never know what our words mean to others.
 
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Rebecca Tran

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Author Ruth De Jauregui tells the world about a forgotten sci-fi author Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain on #OurAuthorGang  
 
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on #OurAuthorGang, author Ruth de Jauregui​ tells us about another unsung heroine of science fictioin -- Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain.
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Joe Bonadonna

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Incredible, Ruth. You just keep finding these unsung science-fiction heroines!
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Joanne Jaytanie via Google+

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Discover the story of author Rokeya. She was first published in 1905. #OurAuthorGang
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Joanne Jaytanie

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Thanks Ruth. I really enjoy reading about the history of women authors.
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
My contribution to #OurAuthorGang today. Rokeya is still celebrated in Bangladesh today for her forward thinking feminist views and writing.
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Chris Weigand

5 months ago (edited)  -  Shared publicly
 
My daughter and I were discussing the need for more strong women role models for young girls and what happens, you find another one. Fascinating.
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And a woman of Color too!! Thank you!

Chris Weigand via Google+

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Another fascinating woman in Science Fiction with Ruth
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Toi Thomas

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I really enjoy learning about all these fascinating women authors. Thanks for sharing these stories.
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I'm learning so much about my favorite genre as I work on this series. And no worries, I have a long list. :)

Toi Thomas via Google+

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today, Ruth de Jauregui​ shares the life and times of a celebrated Muslim feminist author. #OurAuthorGang
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Grace Au

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Ruth, I am so enjoying your women in science fiction series. Another strong, beautiful witer.
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Thank you so much. I'm enjoying learning about these wonderful authors.

Erika M Szabo via Google+

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Another forgotten amazing woman in Ruth's post series
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Erika M Szabo

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a remarkable woman! Thank you for letting us know about forgotten women in your post series, Ruth!
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She was truly amazing. Thank you!

Nikki McDonagh

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Another forgotten woman. She was amazing! Such talent and determination. I must read her work.
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I've added the book in the link, with both of her utopian stories, to my wish list. Yes, she was amazing and still remembered in Bangladesh!!

Lorraine Carey

5 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What an incredible woman! Unless people bring these women to light, not many even hear about them. I love how you are educating us on these women trailblazers in literature.
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Thank you! Yes, she was way ahead of her time, but without women like her, maybe our present would be a whole different reality.
 
+Ruth de Jauregui I have to agree. I love these women who are not afraid to go against the grain.


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