Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan

Begum Ra'ana Liaqat Ali Khan was a prominent Pakistani stateswoman, economist, and diplomat who served as the first First Lady of Pakistan from 1947 to 1951. She played a pioneering role in the Pakistan Movement and remained an influential figure in national politics until her death in 1990. Known as "Māder-e-Pakistan," she dedicated much of her life to the social and economic empowerment of women.

Early life and education

Born Sheila Irene Pant in Almora, Kumaon, on 13 February 1905, she belonged to a Kumaoni family that converted to Christianity in 1869. She pursued higher education at the University of Lucknow. In 1927, she received a BA degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Theology in Religious Studies. She later obtained a double MSc in Economics and Sociology in 1929.

Her professional journey began as a teacher at the Gokhale Memorial School after she completed a Teachers Diploma Course from the Diocesan College, Calcutta. In 1931, she became a Professor of Economics at Indraprastha College in Delhi. It was during this year that she met Liaqat Ali Khan while he was delivering a lecture on law.

Career

Ra'ana served as an executive member of the Pakistan Movement committee under Muhammad Ali Jinnah. She acted as an economic adviser to the Pakistan Movement Committee and mobilized students during her time as a professor. In 1942, she organized Muslim women by forming a small volunteer medical corps for nursing and first aid in Delhi. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, she became the first First Lady of the nation.

During her tenure as First Lady, she launched various programs for the development of women and children. She founded the Women's National Guard (PWNG) and helped establish the Women's Naval Reserves. The Pakistan Army appointed her as the first woman Brigadier—a role that included an honorary uniform issued specifically for her. In 1949, she arranged a conference of over 100 active women to form the All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA). She served as the first president of APWA and worked for the educational and cultural uplift of women.

Her diplomatic career began after her husband's death in 1951. In 1952, she became the first Muslim woman delegate to the United Nations. The Government of Pakistan appointed her as the first woman ambassador in 1954, sending her to the Netherlands. She represented Pakistan there until 1961 and served as the doyen of the Diplomatic Corps. Later, she served as Pakistan's Ambassador to Italy and held a position in Tunisia until March 1966.

In 1972, she joined the political movement led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She became a trusted economic adviser to his socialist government and influenced many key economic decisions. On 15 February 1973, Bhutto appointed her as the Governor of Sindh Province. She was the first woman to hold this office and also served as the first Chancellor of the University of Karachi. Although she and her party won the 1977 parliamentary elections, she did not take the gubernatorial office due to the martial law imposed by General Zia-ul-Haq.

Personal life

She married Liaqat Ali Khan in 1932. Upon her marriage, she converted to Islam and adopted the name Begum Ra'ana (Gul-i-Rana) Liaqat Ali Khan. Her husband served as the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. Following his assassination in 1951, she continued her public service for several decades.

She passed away due to cardiac arrest on 13 June 1990. Her funeral was held in Karachi, where she was given full state and military honours. She is remembered as a leader who fought for the emancipation of women across South Asia.

Awards and recognition

The Government College University awarded her an honorary doctorate in economics and conferred a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics upon her in 1967. She is widely recognized by the title "Māder-e-Pakistan." The provided text also notes she was a recipient of the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights.