Hamida Habibullah


Hamida Habibullah was an Indian parliamentarian, educationist and social worker. She has been called the iconic face of Indian womanhood in post-independence India. She was the first president of the Women's Cricket Association of India.

Early life and education

Begum Hamida Habibullah was born in Lucknow. She was the daughter of Nawab Nazir Yar Jung Bahadur, Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court. She spent her childhood and her early years in Hyderabad. She also studied for a two-year teacher training Course at Whitelands College in Putney, London.

Personal life

In 1938, she married Major General Enaith Habibullah, founder commandant of National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla.
Her son, Wajahat Habibullah, is a bureaucrat and her grandsons Amar Habibullah and Saif Habibullah are prominent businessmen.

Political career

A Congress supporter, she joined active politics in 1965, after her husband's retirement. She served as an elected Member of Legislative Assembly from Haidergarh, was State Minister of Social and Harijan Welfare, National Integration & Civil Defence from 1971–73, and Tourism Minister from 1971-74. She was also a member of the Executive Committee of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee until 1980 and a member of the All India Congress Committee from 1969. She was President of Mahila Congress, UPCC from 1972-76. Thereafter, she was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1976-82.

Educational and social career

After her return from London, she played a major role in furthering women's education in the region and she has been the president of the Avadh Girls Degree College, Lucknow's first English degree College for girls, since 1975. She is also President Talimgah-E-Niswan College since 1975, a school with 3,500 catering to the education of Muslim girls founded by her mother-in-law, the late Begum Inam Habibullah.
She is also the president of SEWA Lucknow, an organization for upliftment & improvement of women employing 5,000 chikan workers. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi, since 1987.
Hamida Habibullah is also a patron of All India Women's Conference, Nari Sewa Samiti Lucknow, Cheshire Homes India Lucknow and member of Sainik Kalyan Board Lucknow.
She was a member Of Executive Council of Lucknow University, from 1974-80. She was the president UP Urdu Academy, founder president and re-elected 1972-76 and in 1982.
Hamida Habibullah changed the face of the mango orchards in Saidanpur. Several varieties of mango, including Maliahabadi, Dussehri, Chausa, Langda and Safeda, were planted by the Begum herself, in conformation with the guidelines of the agriculture university.
She was also the co-founder of non-governmental organization, Prajwala.