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

Jahanara Kajjan

Jahanara Kajjan (1915–1945), hailed as the “Nightingale of Bengal,” was a pivotal, yet often overlooked, figure in the early history of Indian cinema and music. Her brief 30-year life spanned a transformative period, witnessing the shift from silent...

Jamalunnisa Baji

Jamalunnisa Baji (1915-2016) was a prominent Indian freedom fighter, social worker, and literary advocate from Hyderabad, dedicating her long life to the cause of independence and progressive social change. Known affectionately as “Baji,” she was a...

Jameela Nishat

Jameela Nishat is a celebrated Urdu poet, feminist, and social activist from Hyderabad, India, whose work powerfully intertwines literary art with grassroots activism. Born in 1955, she has become a significant voice in contemporary Urdu literature, known for her...

Jamila Khuda Baksh (Razia Khatun)

Jamila Khuda Baksh, also known by her birth name Razia Khatun (1868-1921), stands as a significant yet under-documented figure in Urdu literature. She was a pioneering poet from Bihar who, despite observing the strict tradition of pardah (female seclusion), carved out...

Jeelani Bano

Jeelani Bano (14 July 1936 – 1 March 2026) stands as one of the most distinguished voices in modern Urdu fiction. Born in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, she spent the majority of her life in Hyderabad, a city that became the central wellspring of her literary...