A B F G H I J K L M N P Q R S T U W Y Z

Begum Qudsia Zaidi

Begum Qudsia Zaidi (23 December 1914 – 27 December 1960) blazed a short but brilliant path across Indian theatre, children’s literature, and public life, reshaping each field in just over a decade. Orphaned early, she was raised in Lahore by her elder...

Begum Razia Baig

Begum Razia Baig (1951-2024) was a formidable figure in Hyderabad’s theatrical world and a pivotal force behind the city’s theatre revival movement. As the chairperson and co-founder of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation, she dedicated her life to...

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain

Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was a seminal figure in the history of women’s rights in British India. A trailblazing Bengali feminist, writer, and social activist, her life’s work was dedicated to challenging oppressive societal norms and advancing the...

Begum Sakina Luqmani

Begum Sakina Luqmani (1871-1960) was a pioneering figure in India’s nationalist movement and a lifelong champion of women’s welfare. Born into the illustrious Tyabji family of Bombay—one of the most progressive Muslim lineages of the colonial...

Begum Samru

Begum Samru (c. 1753–1836), born Farzana, was one of the most powerful women in 18th and 19th-century India. Beginning her life as a nautch (dancing) girl in Delhi, her intelligence and ambition led her to become the companion of Walter Reinhardt Sombre, a...