Remembering Fatima Sheikh, a Forgotten Feminist and the First Muslim Woman Teacher of India

When iconic Indian feminists are discussed, names like Savitribai Phule, Tarabai Shinde, and other pop up.These women have worked tirelessly towards empowering women, fighting against caste discrimination, and abolishing social evils like child marriage, sati, and others. But, where male reformers were being hailed and written about, these women remained largely obscured from history until much later. However, one name, Fatima Sheikh’s name remains largely absent from mainstream feminist discourse even now.

Fatima’s work is largely associated with Savitribai Phule and she played a crucial role in executing the latter’s activism. She was a colleague of Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule, and is regarded as the first Muslim woman teacher of India. At the time, when education was a privilege enjoyed by upper caste men, the Phule couple were trying to establish a school for girls and people belonging to the lower castes. They were given an ultimatum that they could either stop their work or leave their home. They chose the latter and went to live with Fatima Sheikh and her brother Usman Sheikh. Together, they established the first school for girls, called the Indigenous Library, at their home.

According to several historical accounts, the upper caste community reacted violently to the initiative. They pelted stones, slung cow dung, and even threatened to harm Savitribai and Fatima. However, that didn’t deter them from their purpose and they continued in their pursuit. Writing about her, Nasreen Sayyed, a well-known scholar said, “Fatima Sheikh knew how to read and write already, her brother Usman who was a friend of Jyotiba, had encouraged Fatima to take up the teacher training course. She went along with Savitribai to the Normal School and they both graduated together. She was the first Muslim woman teacher of India.” Later on, Jyotirao Phule established two trusts namely Native Female School, Pune and the Society for Promoting the Education of Mahars, Mangs, and Etceteras, both of which were first spearheaded by Savitribai Phule, and then Fatima.

While history has been unkind to Fatima, it can’t be ignored that she was a true rebel who not only worked as an educator, but also laid the foundation for the Dalit movement in India. Additionally, she fought patriarchy and bigotry to uplift the marginalised sections of the society.