Hajrah Begum

Hajrah Begum (1910-2003) was an Indian politician, leader of the Communist Party of India and the General Secretary of National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) from 1954 to 1962.

Begum was born into a wealthy family in 1910. She grew up in Rampur. Her father was a magistrate in Meerut. Begum was married to her cousin, but soon divorced and returned to her father's house along with her infant son. During this period she became inspired by the Meerut Conspiracy Case, the judicial process against the Indian communist leadership. She was part of the group of Indian Marxist students. She was part of a core group of young leaders of the CSP in Allahabad, along with Z.A. Ahmed, K.M. Ashraf and Rammanohar Lohia; all of whom except Lohia were also members of the underground CPI. At the time she was one of only a handful of female CPI members. She was a frequent contributor to the weekly Qaumi Jang. Begum died on 20 January 2003, after a prolonged period of illness.