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‘Wear a burkha, if it’s your fashion. But come out and work’
The daughter of a pioneering journalist, Begum editor Nurjahan Begum talks to Dyuti Monishita about growing up with the magazine and her continuing efforts to create a space for the woman’s identity and place in society
photo by Momena Jalil
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Last week Begum, the pioneering woman’s magazine published in Bangla turned sixty. When journalist and progressive thinker Mohammad Nasiruddin envisioned and founded the magazine in 1947 it was intended ‘to bring women forward in the spheres of journalism and literature’. Begum’s first issue, with legendary feminist Roquiah Sakhawat Hossain’s on the cover, was released at a time of political turmoil and volatility, a scant month before the partition of India.
The magazine debuted with writer and activist Begum Sufia Kamal as editor. Nurjahan Begum, Nasiruddin’s daughter was a one of the staff writers, and went on to take the post of editor some months later. Sixty years later, Nurjahan Begum still sits at the editor’s desk at the age of 82, with a rich legacy of writing and activism to her name. As I sit and chat to her on a rain drenched July afternoon, at the magazine’s Patuatuli office in Dhaka’s old quarter, Nurjahan Begum becomes animated and fiery as she talk of issues that contemporary women are struggling with. At one point, she bangs on the table as she expresses her indignation over the accusation she says men regularly level against their female counterparts, that women cannot write. ‘The men say women can’t write, but how can they? They are not given enough opportunities.,’ she says. Excerpts from that interview are published below.
Why was the magazine named ‘Begum’?
There was a lot of research behind the name of the magazine. There used to be an English magazine named ‘Begum’ which used to be published in Bombay. So we thought, why not publish a magazine in Bangla so that Bangali women can read it?
Were there any other women’s magazine, in the subcontinent, at the time?
There were a few, but the most memorable ones were the weekly ‘Eve’ and ‘Mirror’. But neither had gone to our extent in motivating women to break away from being repressed.
The magazine’s focus hasn’t changed much since it was started. Why is that?
Our society hasn’t changed as much as we would like to think. This magazine is for the masses. And the masses still suffer from the same things as they did when the magazine first came out. Many problems that women confront may now be better or worse, but they still exist in today’s society.
What does Begum seek for women to accomplish?
We encourage women to take a stand, and demand to be treated as equals with men. I have even said, ‘Wear a burkha if it’s your fashion. But come out and work.’ Things did improve now. In the past a girl had to marry whoever her family decided she would marry. But now a girl cannot be forced into a marriage. We also encourage women to write and express themselves, creating new writers in the process. And women across the country, even some from abroad, have been contributing to Begum for 60 years. They have been sending me their writings without asking for any money in return. This is the biggest source of power, and I’m sincerely grateful for that.
We are still working to abolish dowry and child-marriages. They have been reduced over the years with enforcement of law and campaigns, but my goal is to erase it completely.
Is Begum less appealing to the women of today? Haven’t standards changed?
There are many flashy and colourful magazines today. Today’s women are attracted to that. We have kept the layout as close to the original one, as we could. What these women don’t know is that Begum is a pioneering women’s magazine in this country. What they see today is only an extension of what we started years ago. We had literature, cooking recipes, even fashion and interior decorations. Now there are models and stylists, but back then we had to do everything on our own. We would ask our relatives, who were young and good-looking, to pose in front of the camera.
One regrettable change in attitudes is towards Begum Roquiah Sakhawat Hossain. Begum Roquiah is now neglected. The people, especially the media, have neglected her. It is the media’s duty to portray her through films and dramas, so that the youths get to know about and her contribution to our society.
What hurdles has Begum crossed over the decades?
We were the first magazine ever to publish women’s picture on the cover and on the inside. This used to be considered as going against the norms of Islamic society. But then my father’s purpose was to break away from that. He used to say that women should be brought forward, and out from behind the ‘purdah’. I wouldn’t say there weren’t people against the progressiveness of the magazine, there were. But we were able to overcome such barriers.
Education is an area where there have been changes. My father wanted to send my sister Fazilatunnesa to study in England. Back then, Muslim women were not allowed to study abroad, and the authority said it was very ‘un-Islamic’. Fazilatunnesa went to my father, asking him to plead to a minister to allow her to go to England. The minister said, ‘A Muslim girl going for higher studies? It can’t be! If I allow this, I won’t have my job anymore.’ To that my father said, ‘She will go. If a Muslim girl can’t go, then I’ll take her to the Christian Missionary Right now and have her converted to Christianity!’ This is how it was then, but now women are going abroad for higher studies more and more. It’s a good thing. But on the other hand, all the privileged people such as government ministers are taking away all the money and sending their children to study abroad. And they say that this country is not good. How can it be good? They are the ones making the country inhabitable!
The number of female journalists has increased over the years. Isn’t this an indication of improvement?
No. Women in this country still have a long way to go, in every aspect of life. Womenfolk are backward, especially in terms of journalism and literature. This is because men have been writing for centuries, but women started writing very recently. I say let the young come out! The men of our society are still not generous. The men say women can’t write, but how can they? They are not given enough opportunities.
Before, women were repressed by the uneducated mind; but now, women are repressed by the educated mind. We still have Mullah-ism to break away from. And the editors and publishers should tell women writers how they can improve themselves instead of telling them what their writing is not good enough. If they do that, women should ask what they are doing wrong and demand to have their writings published. Women would make a lot of mistakes, but they will learn from them.
Which other areas do you think woman need to see progress?
By providing more security, transport facilities and equal salaries. During the Hindu-Muslim riots we looked after our all-female staff going and coming from their homes to the office. But now women are left on their own in such an unsafe and unstable environment. They are supposed to be afraid to come out of the house and work beside men. Women are still paid less than men for the same amount of work. It has to go away completely. There are even fewer female photographers today. This should change. Sayeda Khanam was one of the first female photographers, and I remember people used to make fun of her as she used to go out with her camera to shoot.
Will Begum survive you?
Begum has never missed a publication. We have been publishing every week since 1947. We didn’t stop publishing even in 1971, during the war. After my passing, I believe that my two daughters will carry on my legacy. They grew up with Begum as the centre of their lives. They know the history and our goals. I hope that they continue to inspire women of our country for years to come.
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