The story of Habiba (b. 1833) provides a compelling portrait of the young, non-elite women who formed the backbone of the popular resistance. Born in 1833 to a Muslim Gujjar family in Muzaffarnagar, she was only 24 years old when the revolt began. Her identity is a powerful intersection of three key elements of the uprising in the region: her youth, her religion, and her community—the Gujjars, who were among the most determined opponents of British rule.
Described as a “revolutionary woman warrior,” Habiba was an active combatant and leader. Following the martyrdom of Asghari Begum, she and a comrade named Jamila are credited with taking up the mantle of mobilisation, moving through “other parts of Muzaffarnagar” to persuade and encourage other women to take up arms to serve the motherland. This suggests a continuation of the organised female resistance initiated by Asghari Begum. Habiba is noted to have “led battles,” indicating a command role on the battlefield.
Her end, like her participation, was a collective one. After being captured by the British, she was executed. Crucially, the records state that she was “executed along with 11 rebel women” and hanged with her comrades. This detail is of immense historical significance. The capture and mass execution of a group of twelve women strongly suggests that they were not a random assortment of individuals caught in the crossfire, but a recognised, cohesive unit operating as part of the rebel military apparatus. This provides some of the strongest available evidence for the existence of organised, all-female or female-led combat cells in the region.