The evergreen beauty, Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah. Image source: Public Domain

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In the world of journalism, a glorious name that marked the history for critical writing and stubborn feminism on the accounts of truth and purity is of Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah.

Zaib-un-Nissa was born in a dignified, intellectual family in Kolkata, in 1921. Her father was a Bengali nationalist and had translated the writings of a well known Urdu poet to Bengali. Having received the art of writing as a family tradition, she started writing from a very young age, mainly poetry. Both her parents were extremely supportive.

After her marriage with Khalifa Muhammad Hamidullah, she moved to Punjab. There, the couple helped the refugees, who were crossing the borders. Her husband was the chief of operations in Bata, Pakistan and later, was sent to Ireland. A lot of works of Zaib-un-Nissa are witnessed to be written in his memory and affection.

Zaib-un-Nissa’s poems were the foundation of her celebrated career in journalism. Her poems were recognized by the ‘Illustrated Weekly of India’, from where she took herself to be a native contributor. Her first success was publicized under his father’s publication house; a book called ‘Indian Bouquet’. All the copies were sold out within three months, guaranteeing its triumph. At the time of the Simla Conference (1945), Zaib-un-Nissa visited the place with her husband. She became friends with Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s sister, who helped her to arrange an exclusive interview with him. From here, Zaib-un-Nissa’s vocation as a journalist emerged.

After the Partition, the path of journalism took a turn, when she started voicing against the limitations of women and their participation in this field. She began to compose a column “*Through the Women’s Eyes*” in the *Dawn Newspaper*, where she specifically demanded the authority every woman should have for commenting on every topic. The then editor of the *Dawn*, Altaf Hussain, instead of underestimating her rebellion, acknowledged her capabilities and signed her up as the columnist appearing on the front page. That’s how; Begum Hamidullah became the first female journalist of Pakistan.

She left the *Dawn* in 1951, and establisher her own arena of monthly magazine, *The Mirror,* which became a big hit in no time for its strict journalism and critical takes. She was seated as the editor and publisher of *The Mirror.* She was the first President of the Karachi Business and Professional Women’s Club, and also served as the president of the Women’s International Club of Karachi. She was invited as a very important press delegate in Cairo Conference. She wrote an account of her trip, where she encountered Marilyn Monroe and Jean Negulesco, later which was published as a travelogue.

Her journalism reached its climax when *The Mirror* was banned twice due to her critical columns about the harsh regime of Major- General Iskander Mirza. A compilation of her short stories was published in 1958, ‘The Young Wife and Other Stories’. Its epic popularity made her publish the second and third edition in 1971 and 1987 respectively. Begum Hamidullah opened her first publishing house, Mirror Press, in 1961.

*The Mirror* turned into a very controversial magazine. The consecutive bans and Begum’s critical columns soon made her realize that her family could be in danger. The government dropped its patronage and favor over The Mirror. 

She wrote an emotional open letter to Ayub Khan, starting with ‘Please, Mr. President!’ trying to convince him to stop the police from harming the students, actively taking part in demonstrations. Ayub Khan dismissed Begum’s appeal. She then published a new editorial, ‘No, Thank You, Sir!’ causing a rage of his mishandling.

She was the Deputy Leader of the Pakistani Delegation in the United Nations General Assembly for a year. Begum sought to retirement out of the grief of her husband’s death. An opportunity for a short reappearance came for her with the republishing of ‘The Young Wife and Other Stories’.  She passed away due to water in her lungs in September 10, 2000. 

> A eulogy in the *Dawn* quoted, “even her detractors admired her for the courage of conviction and strength of character she displayed throughout her life”.

She is still remembered for her remarkable role in critical journalism, bravery to unravel and deliver the truth, fearlessness and epitome of feminine strength.

‘The pen is mightier than a sword’-with which she cut open the criticisms of chaos and conflicts, Zaib-un-Nissa, the frontier woman of Pakistani journalism and the flag bearer of feminism to the world.