Begum Zaffar Ali: Padma Shri Honoree and Champion of Girls' Education in Kashmir
By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam
13 October 2025
Begum Zaffar Ali, born in 1901 in Kashmir, was a pioneering educator and Padma Shri recipient who championed girls' education. She became the first Kashmiri woman to pass matriculation, served as a teacher, headmistress, and legislator, and established initiatives to empower women.
Main Points:
1. First Kashmiri woman to pass matriculation in 1930.
2. Promoted girls' education, visiting homes to encourage school attendance.
3. Awarded Padma Shri in 1987 for contributions to education and women's empowerment.
4. Established Teachers' Club and technical training centre for women.
5. Served as Legislative Assembly member (1977–1982).
-----
"I strongly believed that only education could and would empower young girls. Today I am amazed to see girls excelling in all fields; be it education or sports!"
(Begum Zaffar Ali)
Begum Zaffar Ali was born in Kashmir in 1901. Her father, Khan Bahadur Aga Sayyed Hussain, served as the Minister of Justice and Home Minister during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh.
Her mother, Sayyeda Sakina Sadaat, came from an Iranian business family.
Begum Zaffar Ali's family was progressive, so they appointed a European governess to provide her with formal education. Furthermore, they also arranged for a separate Maulvi Sahib to provide her with religious education.
In 1917, Begum Ali was married to her cousin, Agha Zafar Ali Qizilbash. Despite being married and later raising three sons, she continued her education with the support of her husband and family.
With the solid education she received at home and the encouragement of her family, she was able to pass the matriculation examination in 1930, becoming the first woman in Kashmir to achieve this feat. She was awarded a gold medal for this achievement.
Although she began her career as a teacher in 1925 at the Girls Mission High School in Srinagar, she graduated in 1938 and then completed her post-graduation.
As a teacher, she not only understood the importance of education but also made strenuous efforts to promote the education of girls.
At that time, the percentage of girls' education in the valley was very low. Begum Ali started visiting homes in the valley and encouraging people to educate their girls.
She used to convince people to send their girls to school. Influenced by her efforts, many families started sending their girls to school.
Thus, Begum Ali was successful in bringing positive change in Kashmir. Begum Ali later mentioned this in an interview and said –"I used to knock on doors and give speeches on the streets of Kashmir to push families to send their daughters to school to get an education. I strongly believed that only education could and would empower young girls. Today I am amazed to see girls excelling in all fields; be it education or sports! They are choosing jobs and careers based on their passions and interests and don’t think that being a girl is an impediment. How far we have come! But we have to keep progressing and fighting. The goal is that every girl around the world has access to education."
Begum Ali, who made a name for herself in Kashmir for her achievements and as a social worker, also worked as a headmistress in many schools.
Due to her dedication towards education, she was appointed as the inspector of schools in Kashmir. During her tenure as inspector, she started the mid-day meal scheme in schools.
Begum Ali, with the support of Maharani Tara Devi of Kashmir, established a Teachers' Club. The club had some important objectives like organising programmes and public meetings to discuss women's rights and other important issues, providing a central platform for improving the lives of Kashmiri women and bringing participation.
Begum Ali was the General Secretary of this Club. After her retirement, she held the position of Vice President in the Advisory Board. While in this position, she established a technical training centre for the women of the deprived group of Kashmir. Begum Ali was a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1977 to 1982.
While being a member of the Legislative Assembly, she tried to bring about improvement in women's liberation and social issues. She continuously strived for the upliftment of women.
Begum Ali's commendable work in education, social work, women's liberation and empowerment led to her being awarded India's highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 1987.
In 1990, Begum Ali moved to the United States to live with her son, Agha Shaukat Ali, and passed away in 1999 at the age of 99.
Her grandson, Agha Shahid Ali, an award-winning Kashmiri-American poet, wrote a poem in her memory, which was included in the collection "The Veiled Suite: The Collected Poems.”
"Your death in every paper,
boxed in the black and white of photographs, obituaries,
the sky warm, blue, ordinary, no hint of calamity,
no room for sobs, even between the lines.
I wish to talk of the end of the”
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism