Zubeida Rahimtoola

Zubeida Habib Rahimtoola
Born Zubeida Sultan Chinoy
(1917-08-12)August 12, 1917
Mumbai
Died July 5, 2015(2015-07-05) (aged 97)[1]
Karachi
Nationality Pakistani
Other names The Queen of Hearts[2]
Known for Social worker, Political activist
Spouse(s) Habib Rahimtoola

Zubeida Habib Rahimtoola (Urdu: زبیدہ حبیب رحمۃاللہ‎ born Zubeida Sultan Chinoy on August 12, 1917 in Mumbai[3] was a Pakistani political figure and social worker.[1] She was the president of All-India Muslim League in UK and founding member of All Pakistan Women's Association.[4] She was awarded with Sitara-e-Khidmat for her services by President of Pakistan Ayub Khan.[3]

Personal life

Zubeida Chinoy married Habib Rahimtoola[5] in 1935.[3] From that point on she took on an active social welfare front to support Muslim women in British India followed by several women development projects mainly revolving around education after creation of Pakistan.

On the family front Zubaida Rahimtoola’s father Sultan Chinoy was a businessman and had remained Mayor of Mumbai [1938-39]. She had three children from marriage to Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah i.e. two sons and a daughter.[1]

Early life & career

She gained her early education at Convent of Jesus and Mary, Mumbai followed by matriculation at the Queen Mary's School. She then attended Elphinstone College where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree.

Zubeida Rahimtoola was one of the founding members of the All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA). As she was based in the United Kingdom at partition in 1947 she became the first President of APWA UK. She was the first President of the Jinnah's All-India Muslim League in the United Kingdom after partition.[3]

Upon return to Pakistan in 1953 she continued her work with APWA. She remained leader of various delegations of the organization to Afro-Asia Conferences and China. Zubeida remained President of the Sindh APWA 1953-54 – this was followed by being Vice President APWA National 1955-58. She also remained Chairman APWA Cottage Industry 1956-74. Finally she remained Chairman Karachi APWA 1991-97. She was also the holder of Secretary position of Pakistan American Cultural Center.[6]

Awards

Begum Rahimtoola was awarded the Sitara-e-Khidmat (sitara, "star"; khidmat, "Order of Service") by the President of Pakistan Ayub Khan in 1960 for her contributions to Women's Organizations in Pakistan and her work on West Pakistan Family Laws including Women's Rights.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Begum Zubeida Habib passes away". DAWN.com. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Forgotten People Of Pakistan Who Made A Difference". Defence Pakistan. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Queen of Hearts: Zubeida Habib Rahimtoola". The Express Tribune. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Begum Zubeida Habib Rahimtoola portrait". National Portrait Gallery. Bassano Ltd. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "From The Herald archives". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "PACC founding members". PACC. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
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