Sharifa Hamid Ali of Vadodara, Gujarat: A Forgotten Champion of Women's Rights and Social Reform, Opposing Child Marriage among Muslims

By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam 28 August 2025 Sharifa Hamid Ali of Vadodara, Gujarat, born in 1883 in Vadodara, was a trailblazing Muslim woman who championed women's rights in India. Opposing child marriage, she campaigned for the Sharda Act, promoted education, and represented India internationally. A key figure in the All India Women's Conference, she died in 1971, leaving a legacy of social reform. Main Points: 1. Championed women's rights, opposing child marriage and purdah. 2. Campaigned for the Sharda Act, raising awareness among Muslim women. 3. Represented India at international women's conferences. 4. Held key roles in the All India Women's Conference. 5. Advocated for gender equality and women's education until her death in 1971. ----- A Muslim woman who represented India at the international level, a Muslim woman who opposed the marriage of girls below the age of 18 and raised awareness among people by running a campaign in support of the "Sharda Act", a Muslim woman who encouraged women to create their own identity and for overall development. But today that Muslim woman and her contribution have been forgotten, we are talking about "Sharifa Hamid Ali" whose contribution in the interest of women cannot be ignored. Sharifa Hamid Ali was born on 12 December 1883 in Vadodara. Her father's name was Abbas Tyabji and mother's name was Amina Tyabji. Her parents were associated with progressive ideology. Her mother Amina Tyabji was a woman with modern and progressive thoughts. She never supported the purdah system. She was a supporter of women's education and development. Like her mother, Sharifa Hamid Ali also did not follow the purdah system. Sharifa Hamid Ali was given the best education by her parents. She mastered six languages - Urdu, Persian, Gujarati, Marathi, English and French. Sharifa Hamid Ali opposed every practice that hindered the progress of women. Sharifa Hamid Ali married Indian Civil Service Officer Mr. Hamid Ali. After marriage, Sharifa settled in the Bombay Presidency and continued to be involved in social service and political activities. In 1907, Sharifa Hamid Ali attended the session of the Indian National Congress. After attending this session, she became particularly interested in the "Swadeshi Movement", Harijan upliftment and girl education. She ran nursing centers and classes for women. Sharifa Hamid Ali's two daughters were victims of child marriage. After their marriage, she realized that child marriage has an adverse effect on the health and development of girls. Due to her personal experience, she started a special campaign in favor of the "Sharda Act" in Sindh province. She especially went to rural areas and started making people, especially Muslim women, aware about the effects of child marriage. She also used her personal experiences for this work. Due to the efforts of Sharifa Hamid Ali, Sharda Act started getting strong support from Muslim women. Finally, the Sharda Act was passed on 28 September 1929. Sharifa Hamid Ali believed that women should be married only after the age of 18, so that they are physically and mentally mature and have time to pay proper attention to their overall development before marriage. In 1934 Sharifa Hamid Ali represented the All India Women's Conference at the Istanbul Congress of the International Alliance of Women, and in 1937 at Lohkovice, Czechoslovakia, she attended the Congress of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. She made her presence felt as a woman demanding basic rights for all women. Sharifa Hamid Ali held several important positions in the All India Women's Conference (AIWC). She first joined the AIWC as a member and then served as honorary treasurer, vice-president and president respectively. During her tenure as president, she established several branches of the AIWC across India. As a member of the AIWC, she testified before the Joint Select Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform in London in 1933. She opposed the establishment of a separate electorate. In February 1947, only 15 women were selected from across the world to attend the first United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Sharifa Hamid Ali was chosen to represent India. She worked alongside delegates from Australia, the USSR, the People's Republic of China, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Guatemala, Mexico, Syria, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela. Sharifa Hamid Ali, while representing India, said that "We Asians can also contribute to world civilization. For centuries, Asia has been the birthplace of religions - spiritual knowledge - philosophy, which gives deep importance to life. Perhaps the complexities of your life will be influenced and simplified by our simplicity. Let us try to give each other our all." Sharifa Hamid Ali believed that "it is very important to bring the status of women at par with men in all spheres of human endeavour, regardless of nationality, race, language or religion, and to eliminate all discrimination against women in the interpretation of statutory law provisions, legal principles or rules, or customary law.” Sharifa Hamid Ali died in 1971. Her entire life was focused on providing equal rights to women, providing education and their proper development, for which she worked throughout her life. ------ 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/sharifa-hamid-ali-champion-rights-reform-child-marriage/d/136631 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