Begum Rokeya
In the year 1880, on this day, Begum Rokeya was born in Rangpur (now in Bangladesh). She learnt English and Bengali from her elder brother and sister. Later married to Sakhawat Hossain. She was pro female education. Begum Rokeya's married life lasted only 10 years. She was lived with her husband at Bhagalpur in Bihar. After the death of her husband, she came to Kolkata and made efforts to spread female education in the city. She established 'Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School' in Kolkata initially with only eight girls on 15 March, in the year 1911 and the school is now one of the most renowned Bengali medium girls' school of Kolkata.-- A. B.