Bangladeshi writer and political activist Jahanara Imam.

Jahanara Imam (May 3. 1929-June 26, 1994) was a Bangladeshi writer and political activist. She is most widely remembered for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation war to trial. She was popularly known as “Shahid Janani” (Mother of Martyrs).

Jahanara Imam

Jahanara Imam was born of a progressive Muslim family in Murshidabad, in West Bengal, India. She was the eldest daughter in a family of three Brothers and four Sister. Her father Syed Abdul Ali was a civil servant in the Bengal civil service and she lived in many different parts of Bengal wherever her father was posted. She had a very liberal upbringing and educated and was an exceptionally spirited person. Her father recognized this and made sure she received the best possible education. Her mother Hamida Ali, who spent her entire life looking after her family and bringing up her children, also had high ambitions for her daughter. After finishing her studies in 1945 in Carmichael College in Rangpur, Jahanara Imam want to Lady Brabourne College of Kolkata University and in 1947 obtained her Bachelor’s Degree, She was an activist even during Her Lady Brabourne College days.

Jahanara Imam old Image

After the partition of India, she joined her family in Mymensingh in what became East Pakistan and started teaching at Vidyamoyu Govt Girls High School. And next time in 1948 she married Shariful Alam Imam Ahmed, a civil engineer. She first joined Siddheswari Girls School as Head Mistress. She was the first editor of the monthly women’s magazine called “Khawaten”. It started its publication in 1952 and she ran it successfully for several years.