Begum Zafar Ali

Early life and education

Syyeda Fatima as she was known before her marriage, was brought up in an aristocratic, highly conservative Islamic setting where Purdah was an essential part of a woman's life. However the family always gave preference to women education in the house. She received religious and moral education in the early years of her life. Her parents played an instrumental role in the education of their children. She was provided with the best available education. She received formal education at home. A Home Governess who usually was a European Christian would teach her. For the religious education there was a separate tutor for the siblings. This way she remained in touch with both the formal and religious education. Besides formal education at home, the Home Governess would teach and train Syyeda Fatima in House keeping, Home science training, health education, Society, family and children care. During this time she was married to her cousin Agha Zafar Ali Qazalbaash. Begum Zafar Ali had three children. As a mother of three children, she had to devote considerable time to her children. However she managed to spare sufficient time for her education and continued to receive education and training. In 1925 she was invited to join as a teacher at the girls School run by Miss Mallinson and Miss Bose in Fateh Kadal area of Srinagar. At first she was hesitant but later decided to join. She also began taking classes with her children from their home tutor. She would therefore study with her children. Eventually she gained a good hold on the subjects and taught for the next 5 years. During this time she started social service. At the personal level she would provide clothes to the poor girls of the school, comb their hair, stitch their clothes, look after their hygiene. Through the good offices of her father grants were sanctioned for the schools. An extra sum of rupees 10 was sanctioned for the maintenance of girls every month besides meals. She would encourage girls, even the elderly women to seek education and would teach them personally. Seeing her progress in studies she was suggested by her children's' private tutor that she should appear for the matriculation examination since she had a five-year experience of teaching girl students of 10th class. At first she was hesitant since no Kashmiri woman in the state so far had been able to pass the matriculation exams. All the senior female teachers in Kashmir were either 8th pass outs or under Matric. Finally she decided to appear for the examinations in 1930. Out of all the girls appearing in the examination Begum Zaffar Ali passed successfully in Second Division. Since she was the first Kashmiri Woman to pass the Matriculation she was awarded Gold Medal for the Success. From now on there was no looking back. She became a strong advocate of woman education and empowerment. By now she had joined the department of Education as a full-fledged teacher.

Career

By 1938 Begum Zafar Ali had completed her Graduation and was receiving the requisite training in post graduation course. She was now appointed as a head Mistress and served as Head Mistress of various Schools in Different Districts of the Valley. She started the movement for Women's emancipation. She would go door-to-door convincing people the merits of girl education. She would encourage girls in her School to seek education and become empowered. Begum Zafar Ali was later appointed as Inspector of Schools in Kashmir. During her administrative tenure she continued her task of emancipation of women and continued to teach in Schools. She would deliver lectures in Colleges and Social gatherings which made her famous especially amongst the girls. She became a source of inspiration and many girls followed her footsteps. She was instrumental in laying the foundation of the Teachers Club and used to organise its events and address public gatherings. She was one of the key members who founded the ladies Club along with Tara Devi, the Maharani of Kashmir. This club worked for the benefit and emancipation of Women in the State. She was the General Secretary of the Ladies Club. Begum Zafar Ali was also the Secretary of All India Women's Conference before 1947. Begum Zafar Ali served in various capacities in the department of Education, including Principal of various Schools, Education Officer, Chief Education Officer, Chief Inspectress Schools, Kashmir. In that capacity she introduced the mid day meal in Schools. During the later years of her career Begum Zafar Ali was appointed as Deputy Director Education Kashmir, Director Women Education J&K, She was also a member of the Social Welfare Advisory Board, Jammu and Kashmir. In the capacity of Deputy Chairman of the Advisory Board Begum Zafar Ali established a centre for technical training for illiterate girls in Chattabal area of Srinagar. Begum Zafar Ali was later a Member of the Legislative Assembly (1977-1982) and played an important role in bringing reforms in education, Women emancipation and other social issues. Begum Zafar Ali died in 1999 at the age of 99 at the residence of her son Agha Shaukat Ali in the United States of America.

Awards and honours

In 1987, Begum Zafar Ali was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India for her outstanding contribution in the field of Social Work. Later she went on Doordarshan to return the award in protest against the neglectful and harsh policies of the Government.

Family

Begum Zafar Ali was Survived by her three sons- Agha Nasir Ali IAS, Kashmir's first Civil Servant through competition(1941) and the first Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, later Labour Secretary of India, Agha Shaukat Ali KCS, C.S.P Pakistani Diplomat, and the youngest Agha Ashraf Ali ,Educationist, former Commissioner of Education, J&K.(father of Agha Shahid Ali) .