Zahida Khatoon Sherwaniya: The Caged Nightingale's Defiant Verse

By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam 12 September 2025 Zahida Khatoon Sherwaniya (1894–1922), a rebellious poetess from Aligarh, defied conservative norms through her Urdu poetry. Born into a learned but restrictive family, she championed women's rights and criticised societal and political injustices under pen names "Nuzhat" and "Zay Khay Sheen.” Main Points: 1. Zahida Khatoon Sherwaniya (1894–1922), born in Aligarh, was a rebellious Urdu poetess. 2. Raised in a conservative yet educated family, she faced restrictions on free expression. 3. Wrote feminist poetry under pen names "Nuzhat" and "Zay Khay Sheen." 4. Criticised social and political injustices, including British administration actions. 5. Died at 27, leaving many unpublished works; praised by Allama Iqbal. ---- “Sarapa Jurm Hoon, Kis Kis Khataa Ka Naam Loon Aakhir Musalman Hoon, Sadaqat-Kaish Hoon, Hindi Hoon, Aurat Hoon” (Zahida Khatoon ) Zahida Khatoon showcased the pain of being a woman through her poetry. Zahida was a rebellious writer of her time who used her poetry against conservative thinking and raised her voice for the rights of women. Zahida Khatoon Sherwaniya was born on 18 December 1894 at Bhikampur in Aligarh district of North India. Her father was Nawab Sir Muhammad Muzammilullah Khan, a nobleman of Bhikampur who took an active part in the Aligarh Movement. The Sherwani clan to which she belonged was highly learned in the field of education and was progressive but extremely conservative in outlook. When Zahida Khatoon was only 3 years old, her mother Hejazi Begum died (17 November 1897). Zahida and her other siblings were raised by their father. Zahida's father gave great importance to education, so he made proper arrangements for education at home for Zahida and her sisters. They were provided education in Arabic, Urdu, and Persian languages. Zahida has been fond of writing since childhood. When she was only 10 years old, she wrote her first composition, Aisi Banu Main Shayra Jaisi Koi Na Ho Sara Jahan Nazm Meri Dekhta Rahe. (I want to be such a poetess that no one else is like me The whole world keeps watching my poems.) Zahida had shown her interest and talent at a very young age. At that time, there were many restrictions on Muslim women which Zahida also faced. Zahida grew up in an environment where the doors of education were open for women but only within the home, they were educated but freedom of speech was not given, they were given wings but their flight was snatched away. But still, even while staying behind the walls, she got her poetry published in various newspapers and magazines, she used to publish her works under her writing name "Nuzhat". Zahida Khatoon was a feminist, she supported women's freedom and equal rights. These views were often reflected in her poems and Shayari. Her father was very worried about this. He did not like Zahida's open views at all. In 1913, Lieutenant Governor James Meston inspected a mosque in the fish market in Kanpur and ordered its eastern portion demolished. This action caused outrage amongst Muslims and was condemned throughout India. Saddened by this incident, Zahida wrote a poem titled "Eid Ki Khushi Mein Ghamzadagan-E-Kanpur" which was published in a Lahore newspaper Zamindar. In this poem, Zahida openly criticised the administration. Her father did not like Zahida writing against the administration in this manner and advised her to be careful. Zahida Khatoon wrote a poem “Mosul ka tail" highlighting the importance of oil in the international economy and the West's attempts to control oil reserves. The poem was concerned with the West's move to control oil reserves around the world. Her father was also worried by this poem and warned Zahida not to write such revolutionary poems. Zahida stopped writing for some time due to her father's opposition. Zahida could not stay away from writing for long. When she started writing again, she changed her pen name to "Zay Khay Sheen". Ek La‘L Hun Gudari Men, Ek Chand Hun Badli Men; Ek Husn Hun Dehati, Ek Phul Hun Sehrai. Hai Khak Men Zar Madfun. Hai Bahr Men Durr Maknun; Hai Shama’ Teh Daman, Hai Dasht Men Shehnai. Zindan Men Kyun Yusuf; Pinjare Men Kyun Bulbul? Ye Kaunsi Hikmat Hai; Ye Kaunsi Dana’i? ----- (I am a ruby wrapped in a rag, The moon in its darkened phase; I am a rustic beauty, A flower in the wilderness. As is gold buried in the dust. Or a pearl lost in the sea; A candle under a cover, Or in a void, the song of the shahnai. Why was Yusuf enchained? Why the nightingale caged? Who gave the order? What wisdom so ordained?) In this wonderful poem, Zahida has presented a woman and the restrictions imposed on her in a very beautiful manner. When the famous poet Allama Iqbal read Zahida's poems and Shayari, he was very impressed by them. He praised Zahida's poetic talent and said that "When Zahida becomes my age, she will be counted amongst the best poets of the country". Her poetic work “Masnavi Aina-e-Haram” is based on women's rights. Zahida was not only a great poetess but also a patriotic woman who followed Gandhiji's principles. When Gandhiji started the Swadeshi movement, Zahida replaced all her expensive foreign clothes with Khadi clothes. Zahida left this world at the age of only 27. She remained confined to her home throughout her life. Many poems written by her could never be published. Sajjad Haidar Yildrim, while remembering Zahida in “Tahzeeb-un-Niswan”, writes that "Voh Ek ‘Andalib Thi Jo Qafas Men Peda Hui, Qafas Hi Men Thi, Aur Qafas Hi Men Dam Thor Dia". (She was a nightingale, now silent, who was born in a cage, spent her whole life in the same cage and breathed her last there) ---- 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/sherwaniya-caged-nightingale-verse/d/136809 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