Woman Of Substance: The Memoirs Of Begum Khurshid Mirza

by Begum Khurshid Mirza, lubna kazim (Editor)

This is the memoir of a remarkable woman, Begum Khurshid Mirza, the daughter of Sheikh Abdullah and Waheed Jahan Begum, the founders of Aligarh Women's College.

An intimate portrait of an upper class Muslim family in India and Pakistan from the early part of the twentieth century until the recent past, this narrative is much more than an account of Khurshid Mirza's personal life. It spans the years from 1857 to 1983 and provides an insight into the social conditions of Indian Muslims, the state of Muslim women's education, and the transition to Pakistan, while illuminating Khurshid Mirza's rich and varied life as an actor, activist, radio and TV artist, a writer, a devoted daughter, wife and mother.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

LIfe of women in British India during 1918-1989 has been described in this Book. Education, purdah, modern thought that modern education alongwith religious education is essential for boys and girls to survive in the changing times so that women could be self dependent in later years of difficulty. Begum Khurshid Mirza has described the development of modern thinking of her parents at Aligarh. Development of Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College, Aligarh was being established during the period her father came from Lahore to take education. Her encouraged her mother to start a hostel for women education. Her father his scripted a book about the committed work her mother for women's education. For this purpose, a house with a garden was taken on rent. Her mother visited the hostel to see the arrangements. Being educated, her sisters and she developed a home group for staging poems and plays. For this purpose, they prepared a small stage with the material available at home. For celebrating important festivals, important muslim families were invited to Aligarh. She has mentioned that family of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad including his sisters coming to Aligarh. Development of confidence during staging home plays, helped her in later life to establish in film world.