Anees Fatima: The Courageous Freedom Fighter and Champion of Social Reform from Bihar

By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam 14 August 2025 Anees Fatima, born in 1901 in Patna, was a pioneering freedom fighter and social reformer. She actively participated in India’s independence movements, advocated for women’s rights, and became Bihar’s first Muslim woman MLA. Her legacy endures in Patna’s Aneesabad. Main Points: 1. Participated in Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements, rejecting British goods. 2. Advocated gender equality, opposed purdah, and empowered women. 3. Elected Bihar’s first Muslim woman MLA in 1937. 4. Founded Aghor Kamini for women’s self-reliance. 5. Post-independence, led social welfare and Urdu promotion. ------ Every warrior who took part in the freedom struggle is remarkable, who sacrificed the comforts of his life and participated in the tough struggle for freedom. They sacrificed everything that smelled of slavery, whether it was clothes, jobs or any kind of facility given by the British, they sacrificed everything and kept only one goal: "Freedom". Among the many women who sacrificed their comforts and expensive and foreign clothes and adopted Khadi and Swadeshi and participated enthusiastically in the freedom struggle, one woman was Anees Fatima, who is also known by most people as "Lady Imam". Anees Fatima was born in 1901 in Patna, Bihar, she received her early education from Badshah Nawaz Rizvi School, formerly known as Madrasa Islamia. Anees Fatima was married to her cousin Sir Syed Ali Imam. Anees Fatima is considered one of the founders of modern Bihar. She raised her voice against many evils prevalent in the society. She opposed the practice of purdah among Hindu and Muslim women and advocated equal rights for women as men. Along with her husband Syed Ali Imam, Anees Fatima participated in various movements for the independence of India. In 1919, when the British government implemented the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, a committee was formed by the All India Congress to go to England and represent India in order to put pressure on the British government. Anees Fatima became the first Muslim woman from Bihar to go to England. In 1920, Gandhiji started the non-cooperation movement under which everything related to the British was to be boycotted, whether it was clothes, jobs, courts, shops or gifts related to them. When non-cooperation was at its peak, Anees Fatima joined this movement along with her daughter Mahmuda Sami; they protested on a large scale against the liquor shops in Patna. Unfortunately, Gandhiji suspended the non-cooperation movement midway after a violent incident in Chauri Chaura. But Anees Fatima continued to be active in politics even after the movement and soon became a part of another big movement. In 1930, Gandhiji launched another big movement, the "Civil Disobedience Movement". On 15 July 1930, Anees Fatima and Gauri Das organized a huge procession in Patna and proposed to form a committee to boycott foreign goods. Anees Fatima remained active in the movement and also inspired other women to participate in the movements. Anees Fatima was presented in the court and was held guilty and fined Rs 201. Anees Fatima boldly and bravely refused to pay the fine in the court and stop her activities for freedom. Anees Fatima had to go to jail for her boldness but she neither accepted defeat in front of the British nor did she weaken in front of the cruelty of the British. Anees Fatima also contributed significantly to social reform. She met social worker Sushma Sen and with the help of Lady Wheeler, she founded an organization named "Aghor Kamini" to make Bengali and Bihari women self-reliant. Also She founded "Aghor Nari Pratishthan" along with P.K. Sen to provide industrial education to women in Patna. Anees Fatima also actively participated in politics. In 1937, when the assembly elections were held in Bihar, Anees Fatima contested as an independent candidate and won, becoming the first Muslim woman to become an MLA from Bihar. Even after India gained independence, Anees Fatima continued to participate in social work. She was elected the President of the Social Welfare Board. Anees Fatima made Maryam Manzil her office and from here she conducted many programs for the welfare of society and women. Anees Fatima was an active member of Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu. This Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu had struggled a lot to get Urdu the status of second language in Bihar. Anees Fatima has a very deep connection with Patna. Patna has a locality named after her "Aneesabad" which is a notable proof of her work for Patna. Anees Fatima died in Bihar in 1979. Anees Fatima belonged to an elite family but she left her luxurious life and participated in movements for the independence of India, left expensive foreign and costly clothes and used Khadi. Anees Fatima was truly a brave daughter of India who did not leave her duty to serve India before and after independence. ----- Afroz Khan is a teacher by profession, focusing on writings about women and Islam. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/anees-fatima-freedom-fighter-social-reform/d/136495 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