From Mofida Ahmed to Iqra Hasan, Muslim women MPs have consistently defied societal barriers and contributed to nation-building, yet their representation remains minimal
NEW DELHI — In the 78 years since India’s independence, only 18 Muslim women have entered the Lok Sabha, a strikingly small number given that Muslims constitute nearly 14 percent of the country’s population and women about 48 percent.
Despite these odds, the contributions of these parliamentarians reflect courage, service, and an unwavering commitment to the nation. Their journeys also shed light on the persistent structural and societal challenges faced by Muslim women in politics.
According to BBC Hindi the story of Muslim women in India’s Parliament begins with Mofida Ahmed, who in 1957 won the Jorhat seat in Assam to become one of the first Muslim women MPs in the Lok Sabha. Ahmed’s political career, however, faced challenges when she narrowly lost in 1962 to Rajendranath Barua of the Praja Socialist Party by just 907 votes. Her dedication to the nation was evident during the 1962 India-China war, when she donated all her jewellery to the National Defence Fund, demonstrating patriotic commitment over personal wealth.
In the same year, Zohraben Akbarbhai Chavda emerged victorious from Banaskantha, Gujarat. A disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, Chavda had worked at Gujarat Vidyapith and, alongside her husband, founded the Sarvodaya Ashram in 1948 to serve the Bhil tribal community. Her life embodied service to marginalised communities, reflecting how Muslim women contributed to social welfare long before holding political office.
Begum Akbar Jahan, wife of Kashmir’s Sheikh Abdullah, was elected to the Lok Sabha twice, from Srinagar in 1977 and Anantnag in 1984. Fondly remembered in Kashmir as ‘Madar-e-Mehrban’ (Mother of Mercy), she remained by her husband during his two-year detention in Kodaikanal. When she passed away in 2000, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister LK Advani attended her funeral, while the Union Cabinet expressed deep grief, recognising her towering legacy in the region.
Rashida Haque Choudhury, wife of former minister Moin-ul-Haque Choudhury, made history in 1977 when she won from Silchar on a Congress ticket and became India’s first Muslim woman minister after independence, serving as Minister of State for Social Welfare in Charan Singh’s cabinet in 1979. Rashida later switched to Devraj Urs’ Congress but faced electoral defeat in 1980, highlighting the volatile nature of political careers for women.
Mohsina Kidwai, meanwhile, carved a path in Uttar Pradesh politics, contesting from Meerut in 1980 and 1984. Recalling her early campaigning experiences, she told the BBC, “In those days, Azamgarh was a very backward place. It still is. There were no restaurants or decent hotels to stay in. I booked a room for Indiraji at the government guesthouse, but the attendant refused to open it… I told him, ‘Indira Gandhi is sitting in the car.’ As soon as he heard this, he rushed to open the door, cursed the minister, and said, ‘Let my job go if it must…’” Kidwai later served as Urban Development Minister under Rajiv Gandhi and was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Chhattisgarh.
According to political analysts Rasheed Kidwai and Amber Kumar Ghosh, “Since the first Lok Sabha election in 1951, only 18 Muslim women have made it to the Lok Sabha. Muslim women constitute about seven percent of the country’s population, yet in five of the 18 elections, not a single Muslim woman reached the Lok Sabha. Out of approximately 7,500 MPs elected since 1951, Muslim women account for only 0.6 percent.”
This stark underrepresentation highlights the structural barriers in Indian politics, despite the existence of 101 constituencies where Muslims constitute over 20 percent of voters.
Abida Begum, widow of Fakhruddin Ahmad, won Bareilly after the death of her husband in 1981, defeating BJP’s Santosh Gangwar. She was re-elected in 1984 but lost in 1989, marking the slow decline of her political career. Similarly, Noor Bano, a prominent Rampur politician, entered the Lok Sabha in 1996, following in the footsteps of her politically active husband Nawab Syed Zulfiqar Ali Khan. Known for her distinctive white chiffon saree and poised presence, she won the Rampur seat but eventually lost to Jaya Prada in 2004.
Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, entered the Lok Sabha in 2014 from Anantnag. She balanced raising her daughters while assisting her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, in political matters, reflecting the challenges women face juggling family and politics. She continues to influence regional politics as the PDP president for the fourth time in 2023.
In recent years, leaders such as Tabassum Hasan, who won Kairana in a 2018 by-election with cross-party support, and Mausam Benazir Noor, who represented Malda North, have demonstrated the enduring impact of Muslim women in politics. Young parliamentarians like Iqra Hasan, also elected from Kairana, bring fresh energy and expertise, holding degrees in international politics and law from prestigious institutions.
Of the 18 Muslim women MPs, 13 hail from political families, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam. This pattern underscores the reliance on political legacies for women’s entry into parliamentary politics, limiting opportunities for grassroots leaders.
A few Muslim women transitioned from other spheres into politics. Rani Nara, a former Assam state cricket captain, became Minister of State for Tribal Affairs in 2012. Bengali cinema star Nusrat Jahan Ruhi won Basirhat in 2019 but faced criticism for her low attendance in Parliament. These examples reflect evolving paths for women into public service.
The journeys of these 18 Muslim women MPs reveal persistent social, cultural, and political barriers. Rasheed Kidwai and Amber Kumar Ghosh observe, “Despite 75 years of independence, Muslim women have struggled for representation, and their political participation continues to be marginal. Their stories are a testament to resilience and dedication, often against significant odds.”
From Mofida Ahmed’s patriotic sacrifice to Iqra Hasan’s youthful vigour, Indian Muslim women have shown resilience, intelligence, and dedication in the Lok Sabha. Their limited numbers, however, point to systemic gaps in political inclusion. While they have made indelible contributions to governance, social welfare, and national policy, India’s democratic institutions must continue to create pathways that empower Muslim women to play a fuller role in shaping the nation’s future.
