How a 1905 science fiction novella imagined a world governed by women

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before modern feminist movements, Begum Rokeya envisioned a society where women held power, invented solar ovens, and flew cars. A pioneer of Bengali feminism, she fought for education as the primary tool for liberation, challenging the rigid social barriers of British India through her sharp, satirical literary voice.

Born in 1880 in the Bengal Presidency, Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain emerged as a formidable intellectual force in British India. Despite the era's restrictive purdah system, she advocated for the equality of men and women, arguing that the lack of female education was the root cause of women's economic subordination. Her literary output was both prolific and provocative, spanning essays, novels, and short stories that utilized a distinctive, wry sense of humor to critique social injustices.

Her most famous work, the 1905 novella Sultana's Dream, remains a landmark of feminist science fiction. In this satire, Rokeya inverted traditional gender roles, placing women in positions of dominance while men remained confined to the domestic sphere. The text also presented a visionary take on technology, depicting inventions like solar ovens and cloud condensers designed to improve society. This work was not merely imaginative; it was a strategic tool used to challenge the parochialism and conservatism she believed hindered the development of Muslims in India.

Education was the cornerstone of her activism. In 1911, she established the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' High School in Calcutta, an institution she ran for 24 years despite facing intense social resistance. She also founded the Islamic Women's Association to organize debates on women's rights, firmly believing that true social reform required returning to the original, egalitarian teachings of Islam. By the time of her death in 1932, her influence had cemented her status as a foundational figure in South Asian feminist thought.

Today, Rokeya's legacy is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Bangladesh. Her birthday, December 9, is observed annually as Rokeya Day, and the government confers the Begum Rokeya Padak to honor women of exceptional achievement. From university halls to statues in Rangpur, her name serves as a permanent reminder of her role as a torchbearer for women's intellectual and political rights.

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