Women have always played a central role in every revolution and political change. Pakistan Resolution Day marks one of the important events in the history of Pakistan. On this day, All India Muslim League passed the formal resolution demanding a separate homeland for Muslims from Muslim majority states of the sub-continent India.
Throughout the movement, women were side by side with men in crafting the future of Muslim India and coined their valuable opinions. Notable figures like Amjadi Begum helped in drafting the resolution document along with Fatima Jinnah, Rana Liaqat Ali, Lady Abdullah Haroon, and so on. As Quaid-e-Azam also advocated for women’s political participation despite the popular conservative belief that women shouldn’t be allowed in politics. He said,
“No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you. We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live.”
Muslim women of India immensely contributed their efforts to promote the mass movement of independence. They actively and equally participated in every struggle of demanding a separate homeland for the Muslim of India. They came forward and travelled to every corner of the British Sub-continent in order to create political awareness among Muslim women of India.
They organized women gatherings to educate and mobilize them to fight for independence. Not only they preached women gatherings but also, they addressed the men’s gathering. They participated in every political gathering including mass protests, and civil disobedience campaigns, and bravely faced repressive punishments, arrests and imprisonments.
Amjadi Bano Begum, the widow of great Muslim Leader Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, was the only working in the All-India Muslim League’s working committee, and the first Muslim woman to addressed the public gathering. She is the only woman who signed the Lahore Resolution Document. According to Syed Hassan Rizvi, the editor of Delhi publication Mashoor, she was the one who called the Lahore Resolution as the ‘Pakistan Resolution.’
Fatima Ali Jinnah, the younger sister of Quaid-e-Azam, played a pivotal role in accomplishing the nationalistic cause. She advocated for the demand of separate nation state for Muslims of India and backed her brother in every step. She served as a link between women and Quaid-e-Azam to educate them about their individual power. She addressed the public gatherings and endorsed the two-nation theory. She was called ‘Madar-e-Milat’ for her unparallel support and tremendous services to Independence Movement.
Abadi Bano Begum, popularly known as ‘Bi Amma’ was the most prominent face of independence movement. She was the mother of Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali, known in history as, ‘Ali Brothers’ who were among the passionate freedom fights who struggled for independence. Bi Amma peerlessly supported and encouraged her sons to liberate the united India from British Empire. Even when Ali Brothers got imprisoned, she extensively travelled throughout the sub-continent to spread awareness for independence.
Begum Rana Liaqat Ali Khan, was the wife of Liaqat Ali Khan, first Prime Minister of Pakistan. She was a highly educated woman who was among the leading figures in the Pakistan independence movement. She was honored to serve as the economic advisor for the Pakistan Movement Committee. She also accompanied Liaqat Ali Khan in London to meet with Muhammad Ali Jinnah at his Hamstead Heath residence and successfully convinced him to come back and fight for independence cause. She played a pivotal role in spreading awareness among women of India. She is also the founder of Pakistan’s first women NGO, the All-Pakistan Women’s Association, or APWA.
Begum Jahan Ara Shahnawaz regarded as the first Muslim to address a gathering at London’s Guildhall and also represented Muslim women in three round table conferences. She was also the part of All-India Muslim Ladies conference who worked for social, economic, and educational reforms for Muslim women of India. Lady Nusrat Haroon also devoted her services to the freedom movement. She was also the elected president of the All-India Muslim Women League, a branch of All-India Muslim League, in 1943.
Many other notable ladies Geti Ara Bashir Ahmad, Begum Iqbal Hussain, Noorus Saba, Begum Shaista Ikramullah, many more women tirelessly struggled for the independence of Muslims in United India. Without their political efforts, it would not be possible for the Muslims of India to fight for a separate homeland. It should always be remembered that the political role of women can never be neglected as recorded by history. Women leaders and politicians are essential in policy making as they advocate for the half population of a country. Let us all celebrate the struggle of our leaders in their strife for a separate country that we today call our home.
