Jamalunnisa Baji

JAMALUNNISA BAJI

Date of Birth: 1915

            Jamalunnisa Baji, who not only fought for independence from the shackles of the British rule but also worked passionately for creating harmony among the people, was born in 1915 in Hyderabad.  She grew up to mould herself into a girl of independent ideas as her liberal parents had given her complete freedom.  She started reading the banned newspaper, ‘Nigaar’ at the age of 13.  She resented the British Government, the conservative religious traditions and the Nizam establishment which had turned into affiliate of the British.  She did not give up her independent ideas and practices inspite of the parochial thinking of her in-laws.  She came under the influence of Moulana Hasrath Mohani who was familiar as “Thunder bolt” in the Indian freedom movement.  Inspired by Hasrath Mohani she participated actively in the national and anti-imperialist movements.  As a communist, Baji obeyed the decision of the Communist party not to participate in the Quit India Movement.  But she gave shelter to freedom fighters during the movement.  Though she had no primary education, she learnt Urdu and English languages with hard work.  She started a progressive literary organisation called “Bazme Ehabad”.  Besides discussions on literary topics she also conducted discussions extensively on national movement, Socialism, Communism and on other irrational traditions.  Her sister Razia and her brothers also used to participate in those discussions.  She used to designs programmes in accordance with the discussions and conducts them fearlessly.  Razia Begum and her brothers Anwar and Jafar lend active support to Jamalunnisa Baji in this regard.  Baji took membership of the Communist Party of Indian in 1946.  Due to the restrictions imposed on the Communist Party of India and repression by Nizam government on communists, she organised her activities very secretly.  During this period, Jamalunnisa gave shelter to many of the national leaders who are fighting for the freedom of India and Communist Party of India in Hyderabad.  Jamalunnisa acted as a guiding light to several national and international women’s organisations.  Jamalunnisa Baji spent the later part of her life working indefatigably for the welfare of women and for the establishment of socialist society.