Real name Sughra Begum, Lady Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah was born in 1904 in a feudal family of Shikarpur. Though brought up in strict purdah, Begum Sughra was given a liberal education, especially in religion, Urdu, Sindhi and elementary English. In 1919, she married Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah, a prominent political leader of Sindh.
Lady Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah aimed her life towards helping her husband in his social and political activities. She began her political life in 1938 as a worker of the All India Muslim League. The same year she was taken on by the Women’s Central Subcommittee. It was due to her efforts that various branches of the Provincial Subcommittee were formed in different districts of Sindh such as Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Dadu. In December 1943, on the occasion of the annual session of the All India Muslim League held at Karachi, she was elected President of the Women’s Reception Committee.
In February 1947, Sughra Begum came to Lahore and took part in political processions, urging the Government to accept the League’s demands. She led a grand procession that marched towards the Civil Secretariat at the end of February 1947. This was the same day that Sughra Begum hoisted the Muslim League flag on the secretariat building. During the Partition riots, she actively worked with the refugees to relieve their sufferings. Her services in the Women’s Refugee Relief Committee were commendable.
This article was last updated on Sunday, June 01, 2003
