Hyderabad: “Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate an entire community.” These words, this vision is what brought to life Hyderabad’s Safdaria Girls High School 90 years ago by Begum Sugram Humayun Mirza, a woman who was far ahead of her time.
The school celebrated its foundation day on December 2 with ‘An-Nisa: A Tribute to Begum Sugra Humayun Mirza’, to honour the visionary who dared to dream of educating Muslim girls at a time when society ignored the issue.
Inside the school premises, at the Humayunnagar Convention Hall, the seats were filled with anticipation. On one side, girls sat in their uniforms, trying to contain their excitement under the watchful eyes of a teacher determined to maintain order. On the other side, parents clutched their phones, ready to capture their children’s every step, every smile, every word.
Outside, just past the entrance, a board caught the eye of every visitor. It showcased the alumni who had once walked through this hall and now excelled as doctors, engineers, teachers, and professionals across diverse fields. Dr Kauser Fatima, a consultant microbiologist, and Asifa Tabassum, a chemistry lecturer at Maitreyi Junior College, were among the many names
Safdaria Girls High School was founded in 1934, when the very idea of girls’ education was considered an act of rebellion, particularly for Muslim women. Begum Sugra Humayun Mirza, herself denied formal schooling, envisioned a future where young girls wouldn’t face the same barriers. She rounded up seven girls from nearby slums and opened the school on land she personally donated which laid the foundation for a legacy that would last generations.
“During the Victorian era, there was a true feminist living right here, doing what most wouldn’t even dream of attempting,” said inspector-general Anjana Sinha, director fo the National Industrial Security Academy here, adding, “This school wasn’t just her vision—it was her defiance.”
Sinha, who seemed visibly moved, added that Begum Sugra’s story deserved a global audience. “She’s someone who needs to be celebrated far beyond Hyderabad. Her writings, which were powerful tools of activism, should inspire generations to come.”
