Sufia Kamal is a name of a spontaneous writer, a poet, a feminist activist, and a cultural icon; all of these identities were in some way or other reflected in her literary works—comprising short stories, plays, novels, travelogues, and autobiography—which took her closer to touching the lives of a broader spectrum of people across the country.
Sufia Kamal (1911-1999) led the feminist movements that were shaped under her direct leadership at the beginning of the Pakistan era. Born in the Nawab family in Shaistabaad, Barisal, on June 20—110 years ago from this day—Sufia broke countless barriers for women belonging to Muslim families by educating herself on her own, under the guidance of her mother, brother, and uncle. This very background shaped her as a feminist and literary icon in the subcontinent, an identity that became even more evident when she came in direct contact with Begum Rokeya Shakawat Hossain, according to the “Daily Star” website.
Her feminist ideologies were reflected in her literary works from the very beginning of her career, and her activism was not only confined to the fight for women’s rights. She was politically aware through and through, understanding the political reality of her time well and standing against all kinds of state-imposed oppression. She realized that women could not be fully liberated when the nation itself was not. She was a leading activist when it came to Bangali nationalist movements, from leading the Martyrs Day march in February 1952 to the Sanskritik Swadhikar Andolon (Movement for Cultural Autonomy) in 1961.
Just years before the Liberation War of 1971, the female student leaders realized that this was the time to draw more focus on their fight for equal rights. They had already started a signature campaign demanding the bail of political leaders who were in jail. Because of Sufia Kamal’s wide acceptance in all spheres, female leaders from different political groups and professions came under her leadership and formed the Mahila Parishad. Because she was bold and fearless in her expression, even a notorious military dictator like Ayyub Khan couldn’t shake her conviction. When he referred to all the Bangalis as “haiwan” (beasts), it was Sufia, poet, and feminist, who stood up to him and called him the “President of Haiwans”.
This spirit was well reflected in her writing. She wrote rigorously against the oppressions of the military regimes which subjected her to direct surveillance of the Pakistan army during the Liberation War. She kept assisting the freedom fighters in secret even while being under surveillance, sending her two daughters to join the fight as well.
Even after Bangladesh’s independence, Sufia Kamal was vocal and critical of the government whenever her judgments told her to be. Her inclinations towards leftist ideologies were not unknown and were reflected in her verse as well when she wrote:
“Bipul bishshoy prithibir
Joy joy joygaan kaste-haturir!”
(The world is amazed/victory to the sickle and hammer)
