Professor Rafia Sultana (b. 1928) was a pioneering researcher, multifaceted writer, and celebrated academic who holds an immense and respected position in the annals of Urdu literature. Hailing from Aurangabad, a region historically vital to the origins of the Urdu language, she became a trailblazing figure for women in academia. Her long and distinguished career was centred at Hyderabad’s Osmania University, where she became the first woman to be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the institution’s history.
Encouraged in her academic pursuits by the “Father of Urdu,” Maulvi Abdul Haq, Dr. Sultana was fortunate to learn from literary giants at Osmania University, including Professor Abdul Qadir Sarwari, Dr. Mohiuddin Qadri Zur, and Hakeem Shamsullah Qadri. This environment honed her skills as a researcher, critic, editor, fiction writer, and teacher of the highest calibre. After earning her doctorate, she served as a dedicated professor in the Urdu department and was later appointed Dean of the Faculty of Arts, contributing significantly to the university’s esteemed legacy.
Dr. Sultana’s literary career began in 1944 with Hyderabad, a booklet for children introducing them to their city’s history and culture. Her scholarly journey began with her groundbreaking M.A. thesis, Women’s Role in the Development of Urdu Literature, published in 1962. It was the first major research effort dedicated to unearthing and analysing the forgotten contributions of women poets and writers. Her PhD thesis, completed in 1955 under Professor Sarwari, was titled The Beginning and Development of Urdu Prose (Until the Early 19th Century). This work became an invaluable resource, filling a major gap in literary history concerning early Urdu prose before Fort William College.
Her scholarly output was remarkably diverse. As a critic, her collection of essays Fan aur Fankar (Art and Artist) is noted for its balanced, original, and principled analysis of classical writers. Influenced by Western literary movements, she brought fresh perspectives to Urdu criticism. As an editor, she performed the vital service of unearthing and compiling classical texts, such as Burhanuddin Janam’s Kalmat-ul-Haqqa and the complete works of the forgotten master-poet Hafiz Abdul Rahman Khan Ehsan, thereby enriching the canon of Urdu literature.
In creative literature, Dr. Sultana authored Dood-e-Chirag-e-Mehfil, a three-act play on the life of Mirza Ghalib, and Kachhe Dhaage (Raw Threads), a collection of nine short stories exploring complex themes of gender, social customs, and human nature.
Professor Rafia Sultana’s immense legacy rests on her multifaceted contributions. She was not only a creator of literature but also a dedicated historian who recovered the lost works of others, especially women. Her work remains a testament to her profound scholarship, her pioneering spirit, and her unwavering dedication to the Urdu language.