Begum Hamida

Some Lesser Known Facts About Begum Hamida

• Did Begum Hamida smoke?: Not Known

• Did Begum Hamida drink alcohol?: Not Known

• She was born to Late Nawab Nazir Yar Jung Bahadur (former Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court) in Lucknow.

• As a child, she lived with her grandfather, Nizzamuddin Hassan while her father went away to England to pursue L.L.D. – Doctorate of Law.

• Since her childhood, she showed an inclination towards social service.

• When she was six years old, her father was transferred to Hyderabad, then a quasi-independent state, and spent most of her childhood there.

• When Hamida was 14 years old, her father was bestowed with the title of Nawab Nazil Yar Jung Bahadur.

• While in Hyderabad, she would often visit a local orphanage.

• Noticing Hamida’s inclination towards social service and underprivileged, her father sent her to London to pursue higher studies.

• After her return from London, she played significant roles in furthering women’s education and had been the President of the Avadh Girls Degree College (AGDC), Lucknow’s 1st English degree College for girls, since 1975.

• Hamida had also served as President Talimgah-E-Niswan College since 1975, a school catering to the education of Muslim girls, which was founded by her mother-in-law, Late Begum Inam Habibullah.

• She was also the founder of SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) that promoted self-employment for women and the art of Lucknow’s famous ‘Chikankari.’

• Hamida’s humbleness is reflected in the statement in which she said, “I do not relish being addressed as Begum.”

• She was also the co-founder of a non-governmental organization, Prajwala.

• When India achieved its independence, she would have been 30 years old. After India’s independence, she, along with her family, moved to India from Hyderabad; then a quasi-independent state. 

• After coming to India, her family settled in Lucknow, a place that would always be her home. 

• Hamida’s family had close relations with the Nehru family. Her father was a great admirer of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Indira Gandhi was born a year after Hamida was born, and she had developed a close rapport with Indira Gandhi. Indira’s 2 sons- Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi were studying in Dehradun, Hamida also happened to be living in Dehradun. Whenever Indira would escort her sons to school after vacations, both of them would meet. 

• In 1938, she married to Major General Enaith Habibullah, a military officer in pre-Partition days.

• Her husband, Major General Enaith Habibullah, had also served on the North African campaign, during the Second World War.

• Her son, Wajahat Habibullah, an IAS officer, has earned the status of being the first Chief Information Commissioner of India.

• In November 2016, she celebrated her birth-centenary. 

• Begum Hamida Habibullah is fondly referred as Lucknow’s Pride.

• Here’s a conversation with Begum Hamida Habibullah: