Published: 12:00 AM, 28 May 2016
A short biography of Nurjahan Begum
Nurjahan Begum, the editor and publisher of weekly magazine Begum was born on June 4, 1925 in Chalitatoli village under Chandpur district. She is the pioneer of country's woman journalism. She is a daughter of prominent journalistMohammad Nasiruddin, editor of Bangla literary journal Saogat. Begum, Bangladesh's first weekly magazine with pictures was published from Kolkata on July 29, 1947. The magazine shifted base to Dhaka in 1950 following partition. Begum created opportunities for many female Muslim writers.
The founder editor was Begum Sufia Kamal who was succeeded by Nurjahan Begum. Five-hundred copies of Begum was published initially which cost four "ana" each. Begum Rokeya's photo was published on the cover in the very first issue.
The magazine was hugely popular with Muslim women readers but also attracted the attention of men. It was even distributed to rural areas through the post.
There were few voices for women in 1947, and "at that time women in the society didn't dare to take their own photos. Begum brought major changes towards that attitude. The response to Begum was paramount.Nurjahan Begum received her education from the Shekhawat Memorial Girls High School in West Bengal before moving to Lady Brabourne College. In 1947, her father launched Begum to encourage women to take part in the field of literature.Nurjahan got married to Kochikachar Mela Founder Rokonuzzaman Khan, fondly known as Dadabhai, in 1952. Begum provided an outlet for women writers, mainly Muslim women, who had very little opportunity at the time. The first editor of the magazine was Begum Sufia Kamal, while the founder was Mohammad Nasiruddin. Subsequently, the journal was edited by Nurjahan Begum, daughter of Mohammad Nasiruddin, Editor of Saogat magazine. Saogat, also called Saugat, (meaning Presentation).
She grew up in the vicinity of legends like Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Sufia Kamal.
Her first write-up was published in the Eid special issue of Saogat when she was 15. In 1950, Nurjahan and her family shifted to Dhaka at house no 66 in Patuatuli from where Begum is still published today.In an interview, Nurjahan shared: "Through Begum, we formed Begum Club in 1954. It was not easy to contact women writers and get write-ups during those days."Begum Club was the first female club of Bangladesh with Sufia Kamal, Fatima Sadik and Nilima Ibrahim in the advisory board. However, the club was shutdown in 1970.She was awarded the Begum Rokeya Padak in 1997 and the Ekushey Padak in 2011.The pioneer of making women of this subcontinent visible in journalism died of respiratory problems on May 23 this year at the age of 91.
The founder editor was Begum Sufia Kamal who was succeeded by Nurjahan Begum. Five-hundred copies of Begum was published initially which cost four "ana" each. Begum Rokeya's photo was published on the cover in the very first issue.
The magazine was hugely popular with Muslim women readers but also attracted the attention of men. It was even distributed to rural areas through the post.
There were few voices for women in 1947, and "at that time women in the society didn't dare to take their own photos. Begum brought major changes towards that attitude. The response to Begum was paramount.Nurjahan Begum received her education from the Shekhawat Memorial Girls High School in West Bengal before moving to Lady Brabourne College. In 1947, her father launched Begum to encourage women to take part in the field of literature.Nurjahan got married to Kochikachar Mela Founder Rokonuzzaman Khan, fondly known as Dadabhai, in 1952. Begum provided an outlet for women writers, mainly Muslim women, who had very little opportunity at the time. The first editor of the magazine was Begum Sufia Kamal, while the founder was Mohammad Nasiruddin. Subsequently, the journal was edited by Nurjahan Begum, daughter of Mohammad Nasiruddin, Editor of Saogat magazine. Saogat, also called Saugat, (meaning Presentation).
She grew up in the vicinity of legends like Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Sufia Kamal.
Her first write-up was published in the Eid special issue of Saogat when she was 15. In 1950, Nurjahan and her family shifted to Dhaka at house no 66 in Patuatuli from where Begum is still published today.In an interview, Nurjahan shared: "Through Begum, we formed Begum Club in 1954. It was not easy to contact women writers and get write-ups during those days."Begum Club was the first female club of Bangladesh with Sufia Kamal, Fatima Sadik and Nilima Ibrahim in the advisory board. However, the club was shutdown in 1970.She was awarded the Begum Rokeya Padak in 1997 and the Ekushey Padak in 2011.The pioneer of making women of this subcontinent visible in journalism died of respiratory problems on May 23 this year at the age of 91.
