Begum Khursheed Khwaja (1894-1981) was a pioneering Indian figure in education, women’s empowerment, and the national freedom struggle. Born into an aristocratic family as the daughter of Justice Hameedullah Khan of Hyderabad, her marriage to Abdul Majeed Khwaja, a co-founder of Jamia Millia Islamia and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, placed her at the heart of India’s social and political reform movements. This powerful union dedicated itself to national progress, with Begum Khwaja focusing her efforts on the upliftment of Muslim women.
Her most enduring legacy is in the field of education. In 1932, driven by the belief that education was essential for female empowerment, she founded the Hamidia Primary School in a modest house in Allahabad with just five students. Despite her affluent background, she personally taught and tirelessly went door-to-door, persuading conservative families to educate their daughters. She successfully navigated cultural barriers by assuring families that Islamic values and the custom of purdah would be respected, even arranging for fully curtained vehicles to transport students. Her holistic educational philosophy blended modern subjects with traditional Islamic values and practical vocational skills like sewing and home nursing, aiming to make women self-reliant. Through her persistence, the small school grew into an intermediate college by 1951 and, in 1975, became the Hamidia Girls’ Degree College, now affiliated with Allahabad University and serving thousands of students.
Begum Khwaja was also a dedicated participant in India’s freedom movement. During the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements, she actively promoted Mahatma Gandhi’s call for Swadeshi (self-reliance) by opening and running a women’s Khadi store in Aligarh, which sold homespun cloth. Her commitment involved significant personal sacrifice. In a powerful act of solidarity, she burned her collection of fine foreign garments and donated her jewelry to the independence cause. She faced immense personal conflict, as her loyalties were torn between her pro-British father and her nationalist husband. When Abdul Majeed Khwaja was arrested for his activism, she remained resolute, managing the household and supporting his work with Jamia Millia Islamia. Her courage and close relationship with national leaders were notable; it is said she was responsible for teaching Mahatma Gandhi the Urdu script.
Beyond her activism and educational work, she contributed to Urdu journalism by editing a magazine named “Hind,” using it as a platform to advance social awareness and literary culture among women.
Begum Khursheed Khwaja passed away in 1981, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. She expertly bridged the worlds of tradition and progress, creating vital educational spaces for Muslim women within a conservative society. Her life stands as a testament to how an individual’s vision and determination can create lasting institutional change, highlighting the often-underrecognized role of women in shaping modern India.