From Cleopatra to Malala
Woman is the inherent part of our society and cannot be neglected due to their less power and authority. She is created as a companion for man and man has to make her walk with him in the course of life. Woman exists as mother, sister, daughter Sand wife. Woman has great contribution throughout history in all the walks of life viz education, science, technology, literature, religion, art, politics etc. Several women have played leading role in the history of womanhood. Woman is considered as the spinal cord of human society which gives perfection to human life by creating families, societies and nations. Hence woman is the building unit of a developed society. Let’s talk about the inspirational women who have made a significant contribution to the world and society, with great assistance to human history that changed the life from Stone Age to space Age. Followings are the famous influential women in world’s history.
The last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt in 69 -30 BC, Cleopatra, she wanted to defend Egypt from the growing Roman Empire. In responsibility, she formed relationships with two of Rome’s powerful leaders Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar for the betterment of empire. In 1st Century AD Boudicca was an inspiring leader of the Britons. She used to lead several tribes in revolt against the Roman occupation. Initially successful, her army of 100,000 sacked Colchester and then London. A scholarly lady Hazrat Ayesha “radhiyallah-anha” (613-678) was one of the Muhammad’s wives. She is also known as the mothers of the believers “Aumm al Muminin” her life proved that a woman can do as man in every field, that woman could be the teacher and scholarly expert in any field. Hazrat Ayesha’s life is an example for women that they can ‘enjoy the beauty of world as source of joy and pleasure and comfort to her husband. The volume of her vast knowledge explored to more than 200 Muslim scholars “hasab” there are around 2210 narrated Hades from her to the most famous book in Islamic history and culture. May Allah make every women of today act upon the life of Hazrat Aisha, Amin.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) The first Queen of France. Two of her sons became Kings of England. Educated, beautiful and highly articulate, Eleanor influenced the politics of Western Europe through her alliances and influence over her sons. From the history of subcontinent, Razia Sultan, was a great ruler of Delhi sultanate between 1236 and1240, she practically rules the state in an effective manner, her famous contribution in the field of education was that she established schools and libraries across northern India for peoples’ bright future in the region.
One of the greatest political leaders of the Eighteenth Century named Catherine the Great (1729-1796). She is known of playing an important role in improving lots of the Russian serfs. She emphasized on the arts and helped to cement Russia as one of the dominant country in Europe. Jane Austen (1775-1817) One of the most popular female authors, she wrote several novels which remain highly popular even today. These include “Pride and Prejudice” “Emma” and “Northanger Abbey”. She wrote at the time when female writers were not so high profile, she paved the way for the future woman writers.
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) a lifelong anti slavery activist. Her novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was a best seller and helped to popularize the anti slavery campaign. Abraham Lincoln would later remark her books were a major factor behind the American civil war. In the other part of the world a lady named Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) by serving in the Crimean war; she was instrumental in changing the role and perception of the nursing profession. Her dedicated service won widespread admiration and led to a significant improvement in the treatment of wounded soldiers. And letter on the first nursing school was established in England.
Here is the lady from Nobel family of Nobel award Marie Curie (1867-1934) the first women to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person to win it for two separate categories. Her first award was for research in radioactivity in the field of Physics 1903, and her second Nobel Prize was for Chemistry in 1911. A few years later she also helped develop the first X ray machine.
A great brave Pashtoon lady Malalai of Maiwand also known as Malala a is a national folk heroine of Afghanistan who rallied local Pashtun fighters against the British troops at the Battle of Maiwand. She fought and was responsible for the Afghan victory at the Battle of Maiwand on 27 July 1880, during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. She is also known as The Afghan Molly Pitcher to the Western world. There are many schools, hospitals, and other institutions named after her in Afghanistan. Her story is told in the Afghan school text books.
A leading Marxist revolutionary, Rosa Luxemburg (1870-1919) sought to bring Social revolution to Germany. She wrote fearlessly against German imperialism and for international socialism. Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) One of the leading existentialist philosophers of the Twentieth Century, Simone de Beauvoir developed a close personal and intellectual relationship with Jean Paul Satre. Her book “The Second Sex” depicted the traditions of sexism that dominated society and history. It was a defining book for the feminist movement. Mother Teresa (1910-1997) devoting her life to the service of the poor and dispossessed. Mother Teresa became a global icon for selfless service to others. Through her Missionary of Charities organization she personally cured 1000s of sick and dying people in Calcutta. She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979.
Dorothy Hodgkin (1910-1994) awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry Dorothy Hodgkin work on critical discoveries of the structure of both penicillin and later insulin. These discoveries led to significant improvements in health care. An outstanding chemist Dorothy also devoted a large section of her life to the peace movement and promoting nuclear disarmament. The first female prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) was in power between 1966-77 and 1980-84. Accused of authoritarian tendencies she only narrowly avoided a military coup by agreeing to hold an election at the end of the emergency episode of 1977. Eva Peron (1919-1952) was widely loved by the ordinary people of Argentina. She campaigned tirelessly for both the poor and for the extension of women’s rights. Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), Kenyan born environmentalist, pro-democracy activist and women’s rights campaigner. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to prevent conflict through protection of scarce resources. Betty Williams together with Mairead Corrigan, Betty Williams campaigned to bring an end to the sectarian violence of Northern Ireland. They founded the Community for Peace and were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
Billie Jean King (1943), one of the greatest female athletes Billie Jean King was one of the greatest female tennis champions who also battled for equal pay for women. She won 67 professional titles including 20 titles at Wimbledon. Shirin Ebadi (1947) an Iranian lawyer, Ebadi has fought for human rights in Iran representing political dissidents and founding initiatives to promote democracy and human rights. She was awarded by Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007) the first female prime minister of a Muslim country. She helped to move Pakistan from a dictatorship to democracy becoming Prime Minister in 1988. She sought to implement social reforms, in particular helping women and the poor.
Diana, (1961-1997) British Royal princess, she was noted for her humanitarian charity work. Despite troubled marriage to Prince Charles, her popularity remained undimmed as many were inspired by her natural sympathy with the poor and marginalized from society. Tegla Loroupe (1973) she held the women’s marathon world record and won many prestigious marathons. Since retiring from running, she has devoted herself to various initiatives promoting peace, education and women’s rights. In her native Kenya, her Peace Race and Peace Foundation had been widely praised for helping to end tribal conflict. Malalai Joya a Pashtoon lady born in 1978 is an activist, writer, and a former politician from Afghanistan She served as a Parliamentarian in the National Assembly from 2005-2007, after being dismissed for publicly denouncing the presence of warlords and war criminals in the Afghan Parliament. She is an outspoken critic of the Karzai administration and its western supporters, particularly the United States and NATO presence in Afghanistan.
Malala Yousafzai . A Pakistani schoolgirl, who defied threats of the Taliban to campaign for the right to education, She survived being shot in the head by the Taliban and has become a global advocate for women’s rights, especially the right to education. She became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize since it was first awarded in 1901, adding to an extraordinary tally of accolades including visits with President Obama and with Queen Elizabeth of England and an address to the United Nations. On Wednesday, 10,12,2014, Malala received her awards from the Norwegian Nobel Committee in a vast and ornate chamber at the Oslo City Hall before an audience of royals, dignitaries, family members and others.
Above all are the historical prospective of successful women they have created better societies and development in every field of life. In every part of globe every nation should create opportunities and service to woman in all fields to bring change, and work for the construction of great nation and their reward for the future generations. Women can perform if opportunity is awarded to them. Let’s complete the society and culture by giving the ideological rights to our family members, they are not born to be treated as a slave, they must be treated as queen if man consider them self as a king. The creator creates a beautiful creation “woman” to give perfection to the world.
Khaliq k bad jis nay mukamal kia mujy,
Ehly jahan wo sirf meri MAA ki zaat hy.