Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz
| Jahanara Shahnawaz | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 7, 1896 Lahore, British India |
| Died | 1979 Pakistan
|
| Nationality |
Pakistani
|
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Pakistan Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Mian Shah Nawaz |
| Parent(s) | Sir Muhammad Shafi (father) |
Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz (1896-1979) was a politician and Muslim League activist. She was the daughter of Sir Muhammad Shafi. Her husband was Mian Shah Nawaz. She studied at Queen Mary College.
In 1918 she successfully moved the All India Muslim Women’s Conference to pass a resolution against polygamy. In 1935 she founded the Punjab Provincial Women’s Muslim League. In 1937 she was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly and was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Medical Relief and Public Health. In 1938 she became a member of the Women’s Central Subcommittee of the All India Muslim League. In 1942 India's government appointed her as a member of the National Defense Council, but the Muslim League asked League members to resign from the Defense Council. She refused and was thus removed from the Muslim League. However, she rejoined the League in 1946, and in that same year was elected to the Central Constituent Assembly. That year she also went along with M. A. H. Isphahani on a goodwill mission to America, to explain the point of view of the Muslim League. She was arrested along with other Muslim League leaders during the civil disobedience movement in Punjab in 1947.
She was president of the provincial branch of the All India Muslim Women’s Conference for seven years, and also served as vice-president of the Central Committee of the All India Muslim Women’s Conference.
She was the first woman in Asia to preside over a legislative session. She attended a Round Table Conference with Radhabai Subbarayan, and they were the only active members of women's organizations who were nominated to the conference.
She was also associated with the education and orphanage committees of the Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam, in Lahore, and with several hospitals, as well as maternity and child welfare committees. She was a member of the All Indian General Committee of the Red Cross Society.
She wrote a novel titled Husn Ara Begum and her memoirs titled Father and Daughter: a political autobiography. She also wrote for women's and literary magazines.
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