Remembering Nurjahan Begum

Born in East Bengal in 1925 during the British rule of India, Nurjahan Begum began her education in Calcutta in mid 40's when her father Mohammad Nasiruddin brought out weekly journal Sawgat to inspire the writers and poets from Muslim community. Having graduating from Lady Brabourne College of Calcutta in 1944, Nurjahan Begum developed her  writing skills by contributing to Sawgat and helping her father in running the affairs of the journal. Sawgat earned fame in India by that time by introducing colourful pictures of events along with news. My father was its regular subscriber and I had the opportunity of reading those issues at our home in Kumarkhali.
Mohammad Nasiruddin brought out Weekly Begum from Calcutta (now spelt as Kolkata) to inspire the Muslim women to join the literary circle in July of 1947. Editor of the Begum was our legendary Poet Sufia Kamal. When Poet Sufia Kamal had left for Dhaka after partition of British India in August 1947 along with her husband Kamaluddin Ahmed, Nurjahan Begum was made the editor of Weekly Begum. Weekly Begum also followed the footprints of Sawgat by publishing photographs of women writers.
During her stay in Calcutta, Nurjahan Begum came in touch with Rebel Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Nasiruddin gave the poet a room in their house to lighten his financial crisis.
In Calcutta, Nurjahan Begum was involved as a volunteer in refugee camps during Hindu-Muslim riot in 1946.
The family of Nasiruddin moved to Dhaka in 1950 and settled at Sharat Gupta Road in Narinda. The weekly Begum began to be published from Patuatuli of old Dhaka. The weekly was instrumental in establishing women of our society as writers and poets. Begum club was established in 1954 and immediately became a hub for social and cultural activities of women in Dhaka. Poet Sufia Kamal was its adviser.
Nurjahan Begum was involved in social activities in independent Bangladesh as can be seen from her involvement at Narinda Mahila Samity as well as Wari Mahila Samity.
Nurjahan Begum was married to Rokonuzzaman Khan in 1952, who was feature and mufassil page editor of Daily Ittefaq. They were happily married and had two daughters: Flora Nasreen Khan (Shathi) and Rina Yasmin (Bithi).
Incidentally, I met Nurjahan Begum in November of 1962 when we were travelling to different parts of Sylhet along with a 18-member team of Central Kochi-Kachar Mela headed by founder-director of Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela Rokonuzzaman Khan. That was a memorable trip.
My family felt honoured by the invitation of Rokonuzzaman Khan at Sarat Gupta Road residence of his father-in-law where Nurjahan Begum entertained us on the eve of our departure to join my first diplomatic assignment in Bangladesh embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1977.
Following the death of Rokonuzzaman, Nurjahan  Begum was invited by Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela to participate in its different functions. Of these functions this writer, as Joint Director of Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela, invited Nurjahan Begum to join the 46th anniversary of Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela on October 05, 2002 where she gave an inspirational speech for the members of Central Kochi-kanchar Mela to march forward with the ideals of Rokonuzzaman Khan, who was popularly known as Dadabhai. Minister Khurshid Jahan Haque presided over while Barrister Mainul Hosein was one of the special guests.
Nurjahan Begum also participated as a special guest on the occasion of 48th founding anniversary of Central  Kochi-Kanchar Mela while the chief guest was Mr. Morten Giersing, Representative of UNICEF in Bangladesh. Nurjahan Begum was invited by Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela on the occasion of its 50th founding anniversary to receive an award on behalf of Rokonuzzaman Khan.
Nurjahan Begum allowed this writer and artist Hashem Khan to bury Rokonuzzaman Khan inside the premises of Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela at Shegun Bagicha. Rokonuzzaman died in December of  1999 at the age of 74.
Nurjahan Begum was the chief guest at a function related to media and women organized by Bangladesh Centre for Development of Journalism and Communication at the Planning and Development Academy on October 24, 2003. It was presided over by Dr. Geeti Ara Nasrin. Here Nurjahan Begum emphasised on commitment and professionalism to carry out duties in the media. She pointed out that weekly Begum could complete its 56 years of publication amid many hindrances because of unwavering professional zeal. She said the history of women journalists in the country was quite long and urged the women in media to go ahead with a modern outlook with the changing needs of time. Nurjahan's commitment to Weekly Begum was tremendous as had been reflected in 2003 when she was confronted with financial crisis. She had sought this writer's assistance to pay back workers in printing press. I gave ten thousand taka to pay back workers which she paid back later. That showed her commitment to her journalistic career.
Weekly Begum is published now on the occasion of Eid only. Nurjahan Begum declared Mohammad Nasiruddin Smriti Bhavan as trust. She was awarded with Rokeya Padak in 1997 and Ekushey Padak by Bangladesh government in  2011.
Nurjahan Begum had been suffering from respiratory problem during winter for a long time. She was admitted to Square Hospital on May 04 with respiratory problem along with pneumonia and doctors gave up hope as this writer was told by her daughter Rina Yasmin. Nonagenarian Nurjahan Begum left this world on May 23 leaving behind two daughters, grand children and scores of admirers to mourn her death. May Allah grant her eternal peace.
The writer is a retired diplomat of Bangladesh. [email protected]