Nurjahan and Begum - synonymous to a legend

Nurjahan Begum became the vanguard of the country's women in journalism through her long journey with the Begum - the country's first illustrated weekly magazine for women.

The nation would be celebrating Nurjahan's 91st birthday on June 4, cutting a cake at her 39 Sharatgupta Road residence like last year. Now, there would be a remembrance this year too, but with her presence only in our memory.

Known as "Nuri" in her childhood, Nurjahan Begum was born in Chalitatali village of Chandpur district on June 4, 1925 to renowned journalist Mohammad Nasiruddin and Fatema Khatun. She grew up in Kolkata from where her father was publishing Shawgat - the magazine that nurtured Bengali literate for years.

As she grew up in Kolkata, she came in contact with Kazi Nazrul Islam, Abul Mansur Ahmad, Kazi Motahar Hossain, Ibrahim Khan and many other renowned personalities in the fields of literature, education and social reform who used to gather at Nasiruddin's house and Shawgat office. This opportunity gave her the fervor not only for journalism, but also for social work.

Her academic education began at the Sakhawat Memorial School, and she passed her matriculation from there in 1942. Subsequently, she passed her intermediate examinations with philosophy, history and geography in 1944 and achieved bachelor degree in ethics, philosophy and history in 1946 from Lady Brabourne College.

Apart from the academic zeal, Nurjahan used to be a keen observant and a helping hand of her father's work at the Shawgat. Eventually, she gathered all necessary knowledge by the time when the Begum was launched in July, 1947. At the beginning, poet Begum Sufia Kalam was the editor of the magazine and Nurjahan was the acting editor. She became the editor after four months as Sufia Kamal moved to Dhaka.

Later Nasiruddin also shifted to Dhaka with his family and establishment, and the Begum was re-launched here in 1950 with Nurjahan Begum as the editor.

She participated in various social activities, including relief work in 1946, by helping setting up of camps for children during the riot in Kolkata and assisting in establishing orphanage for Muslim women and orphans in 1947.

She assisted in establishing the first women's club for women, writers and social workers named 'The Begum Club' in Dhaka in 1954. She was also member of various women's organisations including the Wari Mohila Samity and the Narinda Mohila Samity.

Through these organizations she further worked for education and activities of children. She also raised funds to help the victims of natural disasters and calamity.

Nurjahan Begum's husband was popular juvenile organiser Rokonuzzaman Khan, also known as Dadabhai. He organised Konchi Kanchar Mela and also edited Konchi Kanchar Ashor page of the daily Ittefaq.