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Highlights of
an Eventful Life
1911 : Born on Monday, June 20, at Rahat Manzil, Shaistabad,
Barisal. Her father was Syed Abdul Bari and mother Syeda Sabera Khatun.
1918 : Met Begum Rokeya for the first time in Calcutta.
1923 : Got married to maternal cousin Syed Nehal Hossain. Left
Shaistabad for Barisal town. Published first story Sainik Badhu in a
magazine from Barisal called Tarun. Poet Kamini Roy visited Barisal and
encouraged Sufia N Hossain to continue writing.
1925 : Started doing social work in Barisal's Matri Mongol's. She
was the lone Muslim member of the society. When Gandhiji came to Barisal,
she gave him home spun thread in a public gathering.
1926 : Her poem first printed in Saugat. First child Amena Khatun
born.
1927 : Wrote a letter to Md Nasiruddin, Editor of Saugat, to help
distressed Nazrul.
1928 : Got the credit for being the first Bengali Muslim woman to
fly in an aeroplane, for which she was congratulated by Begum Rokeya.
1929 : Started working as a member in Begum Rokeya's Anjumane
Khaowatine Islam. Sent poet Rabindranath Tagore a poem on his birthday.
Met the poet on his invitation at Jorasanka. He gave a copy of Gora.
1930 : Write-up published along with photograph in Sougat's first
women's issue.
1931 : Nominated as the first Muslim women in Union Women's
Foundation.
1937 : Started career as a teacher in Calcutta Corporation School.
(1933-1941).
1937 : First collection of stories Keya Kata was published. Wished
Rabindranath Tagore on his birthday through a poem which was replied in
the same manner by the poet from Almora.
1938 : First collection of poems Shajher Maya was published. Sent Tagore a
copy of the book and received blessing.
1940 : Participated in the movement against the British. First son, Shahed
Kamal, was born.
1946 : Conducted a relief centre at Lady Brabourne College during the
communal riots. Met Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for the first time. After the
riot she along with Md. Modabber, artist Kamrul Hassan, his brother Hassan
Jan and many other members of Mukul Fauj started a kindergarten school
named Begum Rokeya Memorial in Congress Exhibition Park.
1947 : Before the partition, worked as Editor, of the first weekly Begum.
After partition came back to Bangladesh with husband. Met famous women
leaders like Lila Ray, Juiful Ray, Asha Lata Sen and joined them in Shanti
Committee.
1949 : Bought our 'Weekly Sultana' jointly with Jahanara Arzoo.
1950 : Daughter Sultana Kamal was born. Revolted against the communal
riots in Dhaka, gave leadership to the resistance movement and worked as a
relief worker.
1951 : Collection of poems Maya Kajol was published. Elected president of
Dhaka Shishu Raksha Samity.
1952 : During the language movement gathered women to organise a
procession. Played active role in the movement beside giving leadership to
the procession. Daughter Syeda Kamal was born.
1954 : Established 'Wari Women Samity' and elected first President of the
Samity.
1955 : Led the first women gherao resistance, on the streets of Dhaka,
because of the price hike of commodities.
1956 : Participated in a Shahitya Sammelan in Delhi. Established a
national children's organisation Kachi Kanchar Mela at her own residence.
1957 : Published Mon-o-Jiban, a collection of poems.
1958 : Published Shanti-o-Prathana, a collection of poems.
1959 : Received BAFA award (Bulbul Lalitkala Academy)
1960 : Established Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Smriti Committee and proposed
naming of Dhaka University's first women's hostel after Begum Rokeya.
1961 : Elected president of cultural organisation Chhayanot. Received
Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award from Pakistan government.
1962 : Received Bangla Academy Award for poetry.
1964 : Received Begum Club award. Published collection of poems Udatta
Prithibi.
1965 : Published collection of nursery rhymes Ethol-Bethol. Elected
president of Nari Kalyan Sangstha. Elected president of Soviet-Pakistan
Maitry Samity.
1966 : Diwan (collection of poems) published. Went to Soviet Union to join
International Women's Day festivals in Moscow. Second edition of Shanjher
Maya.
1967 : Second edition of Keya Kata.
1968 : Published Soviet-e-Dinguli, a travelogue.
1969 : Published collection of poems Abhijan Trakik. Elected Chairperson
of Mahila Sangram Committee. Took active part in mass uprising against
Ayub. Renounced Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
1970 : Received the prestigious Soviet Lenin Padak. Established Mahila
Parishad and became its President. Worked as relief worker during the 1970
cyclone. Elected president of Samaj Unnayan Sangstha.
1971 : Led the women's rally during the non-co-operation movement in
March. During the Independence War she stayed back at her Dhanmondi
residence and continued helping the muktijoddhas (freedom-fighters).
Prepared the manuscript of Ekatturer Diary. Inaugurated the first
television programme of independent Bangladesh.
1972 : Mor Jaduder Shamadhi Pore, collection of poems published. Visited
Bulgaria, West Germany, Soviet Union as President of Mahila Parishad.
1975 : Awarded Ananaya Nari by the Bangladesh United Nations Association
on the occasion of International Women's Decade. Mor Jaduder Samadhi Pore
was translated in English from USA - Where My Darlings Lie Buried.
1976 : Awarded Ekushe Padak by Bangladesh Government, and Nurunnessa
Khatun Bidya Binodin award.
1977 : Husband Kamaluddin died. Received Nasir Uddin gold medal and
Sher-e-Bangla National Literary award.
1978 : Received Comilla Foundation award. Visited USA
1981 : Noatal Kishore Darbar collection of poems published.
Received Dhaka Ladies Club award and Czechoslovakia Sangram Nari award.
1982 : Received Muktodhara Mahila award and Phulki (Chittagong) children
award. Elected president of Rabindra Sangeet Shammelan.
1983 : Received Begum Zebunnessa Mahabullah Trust Award, Kathakoli Shilpi
Goshthi Award and Pata Shahitya Padak.
1984 : Shanjher Maya's Russian translation published.
1985 : Received Shaheed Nutan Chandra medal (Chittagong) and Kabitala (Khulna)
award.
1986 : Received Dhaka University award.
1988 : Elected president Bangabandhu Parishad. Awarded Ruma Smriti Award (Khulna).
Published Akale Amader Kal. Bango Shahitya Shammelan and Bangladesh
Association of New England invited her to USA, her second visit.
1989 : Published Ekatturer Diary. Received Jasimuddin Padak and was made
Member of Congress (USA) of Bangladesh Society of New York.
1990 : Denounced curfew and led the silent procession during the historic
movement against autocracy.
1991 : On the occasion of her 80th birthday received a civic reception.
Received Business and Professional Women's award, Mukti Juddho Sanghati
Parishad's Mujib medal.
1992 : Third publication of Keya Kata. Joined London's Bangla Literary
Parishad organised literary conference and was awarded Bango Janani
decoration. Awarded Begum Rokeya Padak of Nari Kalyan Sangstha.
1993 : Received Shahidullah Kaiser Smriti Medal on the occasion of the
40th anniversary of Kendriya Khelaghar.
1996 : The Daily star
named Begum Sufia Kamal the Woman of the Year 1995, Calling her the 'Lady
of Light'at a time of "degradation, conflict, corruption,
short-sightedness and moral bankruptcy."
On November 20, 1999 "Our lady of
light", as The Daily Star called her while awarding her the 1996 person of
the year, left a nation grieving with the President Shahabuddin Ahmed
leading the mourners.
Source:
Tributes to
Begum Sufia Kamal
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