Nationality Pakistani Spouse Habib Rahimtoola Known for Social work, Activism | Other names The Queen of Hearts Other name The Queen of Hearts | |
Full Name Zubeida Sultan Chinoy Born August 12, 1917 ( 1917-08-12 ) Mumbai Died 5 July 2015, Karachi, Pakistan | ||
Zubeida Habib Rahimtoola (Urdu: زبیدہ حبیب رحمۃاللہ born Zubeida Sultan Chinoy on August 12, 1917 in Mumbai was a Pakistani political figure and social worker. She was the president of All-India Muslim League in UK and founding member of All Pakistan Women's Association. She was awarded with Sitara-e-Khidmat for her services by President of Pakistan Ayub Khan.
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Personal life
Zubeida Chinoy married Habib Rahimtoola in 1935. From that point on she took on an active social welfare front to support Muslim women in British India followed by several women development projects mainly revolving around education after creation of Pakistan.
On the family front Zubaida Rahimtoola’s father Sultan Chinoy was a businessman and had remained Mayor of Mumbai [1938-39]. She had three children from marriage to Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah i.e. two sons and a daughter.
Early life & career
She gained her early education at Convent of Jesus and Mary, Mumbai followed by matriculation at the Queen Mary's School. She then attended Elphinstone College where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree.
Zubeida Rahimtoola was one of the founding members of the All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA). As she was based in the United Kingdom at partition in 1947 she became the first President of APWA UK. She was the first President of the Jinnah's All-India Muslim League in the United Kingdom after partition.
Upon return to Pakistan in 1953 she continued her work with APWA. She remained leader of various delegations of the organization to Afro-Asia Conferences and China. Zubeida remained President of the Sindh APWA 1953-54 – this was followed by being Vice President APWA National 1955-58. She also remained Chairman APWA Cottage Industry 1956-74. Finally she remained Chairman Karachi APWA 1991-97. She was also the holder of Secretary position of Pakistan American Cultural Center.
Awards
Begum Rahimtoola was awarded the Sitara-e-Khidmat (sitara, "star"; khidmat, "Order of Service") by the President of Pakistan Ayub Khan in 1960 for her contributions to Women's Organizations in Pakistan and her work on West Pakistan Family Laws including Women's Rights.