Begum Hamida Habibullah Celebrating a Centenary of Greatness

The Habibullah estate sits in the middle of Hazratganj Twith quiet pride.

- Nikita Gupta

Against the ceaseless bustle and clamour of people and traffic, the turn to the ancestral house of the Habibullahs offers a tranquil escape. The house welcomes you with its pristine elegance and the first look at it, inspires awe.

The Habibullah estate is home to one of the city's most prestigious families. Hamida Habibullah, who turns hundred this month, is one of its most illustrious members and an invaluable treasure for the city.

Daughter of Late Nawab Nazir Yar Jung Bahadur, Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court, she was born on 20th November 1916 in Hyderabad. She went on to acquire the best education, always a brilliant scholar. She passed Senior Cambridge with distinction in five subjects; did her graduation from Osmania University where she was a gold medalist and also did a two year Teachers Training from White Lands College (Putney) London.

Her marriage to Major General Enaith Habibullah in 1938 brought her to Lucknow and thus began the journey, which is memorable for the city.

Although she joined politics after her husband retired from the Army in 1965, she had been active towards the cause of social upliftment since childhood. She is a pioneer, a remarkable woman and a revolutionary.

Since 1975, she has been President of Awadh Degree College, the first English Degree College for girls and also of Talimgah-E-Niswan, the first school for Muslim girls in Purdah, both founded by her mother-in-law Late Begum Inam Habibullah.

She continues to be actively involved with organizations like Cheshire Home, Nari Seva Samiti, UP and Indian Council for Child Welfare.