Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880–1932) was a pioneering feminist writer, social worker, and educator in British India, whose ideas and activism laid the foundation for women's rights in the region. Born into a conservative aristocratic family in Rangpur, Bangladesh (then Bengal Presidency), she defied societal norms to advocate for education and empowerment of Muslim women. Rokeya's most famous work, 'Sultana's Dream' (1905), is an early feminist science fiction novel that imagines a utopian world where women rule and men are confined to homes. This work highlighted gender inequalities and inspired future generations of feminists.
Rokeya was a prolific writer in both Bengali and English, penning essays, short stories, and novels that critiqued patriarchy, colonialism, and religious dogma. In 1911, she established the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in Calcutta, which became a landmark institution for women's education. She also founded the Muslim Women's Association to promote social reforms and women's rights. Begum Rokeya's legacy endures as a symbol of women's empowerment in South Asia, and her birthday is celebrated as Rokeya Day in Bangladesh. The Begum Rokeya Padak, awarded annually by the Bangladesh government, honors women's contributions to society in her name.