By TwoCircles.net news desk
New Delhi: Famous Urdu personality , freedom fighter and and social activist Begum Zakia Sultana Nayyar has died at the age of 83 after prolonged illness in Delhi, on 10th October, 2007 .
Poet and writer, she wrote books such as “Beetay Lamhay”, ” Yaadon Kay Chiragh”, “Saghar Nizami: Fun aur Shakhsiat”, “Kuliyat -e-Saghar Nizami” and “Vaadiyan”. Along with her husband, legendary Urdu poet Saghar Nizami, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, she worked for the promotion of nationalism and secularism through her writings and contribution to Urdu literature.
Born on 11th April 1924 in the northern city of Moradabad, Begum Zakia Sultana Nayyar was an ardent nationalist and dedicated social worker who worked to empower underprivileged women.
She was a founder member of the Lok Kalyan Samiti and worked with the organization all her life. Begum Sultana was also associated with the Delhi Mahila Samaj and the Young Women’s Hostel and Anjuman Khawateen from the beginning.
Besides this, she was also Treasurer of the Business and Employment Bureau and was ex chair person of the NDMC Education sub committee.
Despite being home educated, she was passionate about education and was a member of the governing body of Gargi College and the Sahitya Kala Parishadin in Delhi. She was a founder and executive member of the managing committee of the Crescent Public School in Delhi.
A feminist and nationalist, she was inspired by leaders such as Sucheta Kriplani, Sarojini Naidu and Indira Gandhi who epitomised all the great qualities embodied in Indian women.
She will be remembered by all those she helped and inspired through her passion and dedication to the causes she believed in.
Begum Zakia Sultana is survived by a daughter and three sons.