Begum Viqar-un-Nisa Noon, an Austrian by birth, was married to Sir Feroz Khan Noon in 1945. She and her husband left Delhi for Lahore the same year after Sir Noon resigned from the Viceroy’s cabinet. Because of her husband’s leading role in Indian politics, Begum Noon had the opportunity of studying the prevailing political situation and public opinion very closely. She organized election campaigns and became a member of the Punjab Provincial Women’s Subcommittee. She organized a band of girl students and other women volunteers and toured other districts of the province for promotion of the cause of the Muslim League.
During the Civil Disobedience Movement in Punjab, Begum Noon was one of the leading women leaders responsible for successfully organizing the processions and demonstrations against the Khizar Ministry backed by the British, and courted arrest on three occasions.
During the period of mass transfer of population after the Partition, she rendered invaluable assistance to various refugee committees and camps. She had been closely associated with Red Cross and represented Pakistan on various occasions. She also opened a school and a college for girls at Rawalpindi.
After a protracted illness, she passed away on January 16, 2000, in Islamabad.
This article was last updated on Sunday, June 01, 2003
