Government of India- 319 views
SAEEDA BANO
First professional female broadcaster in India
“Breaking through the chains of an extremely conventional and secure life, I had chosen to live the vulnerable existence of a single woman. Age was on my side; I was young and strong.”
- Saeeda Bano (Dagar Se Hat Kar -Off the Beaten Track)
Born in 1913 in Bhopal, Saeeda Bano went on to become the first woman in India to work as a radio newsreader and was known then and now as the doyenne of Urdu broadcasting. She was considered an exceptional child as she won several prizes and awards at various inter-school and inter-state competitions for both tennis and badminton. She candidly describes herself as a mischievous kid who was always up to some mischief and was often compared with her elder sister who was the star student of the school they were studying in. Though she excelled on the sports field, academically, she was just average. However, with the help of her intuitive teacher, Ms Rollo, who could understand the mindset of a rebellious kid, she was saved from being deemed as an entirely worthless child! After completing her matriculation, she went on to join Isabella Thoburn College, which was known for its star alumni like Tara Kuruvilla, Cecilia Philip, and so on.
Saeeda Bano | Courtesy Zubaan Books/Penguin Books
India’s first female radio newsreader
On the evening of 14 November 1932, Saeed Bano was married to Abbas Raza, who was a Judge and worked in the Judicial Service. In her autobiography (Off the Beaten Track), she recounts that in response to Abbas Raza’s love letters, she used to send him the names of the novels she was reading. She was more interested in studying further rather than getting married and even wrote a four-page long letter regarding this to her father. Ultimately, she had to get married to Abbas Raza. Saeeda Bano goes on to write that she was particularly close to her father-in-law, Justice Muhammad Raza, who would often hold discussions with her and give opinions on subjects such as history and geography. She went on to become friends with the celebrated singer Begum Akhtar. She even arranged the marriage of Begum Akhtar and Ishtiaq Abbasi, a Barrister from an aristocratic family of Lucknow. However, soon, her own marriage came apart, and she had to move to Delhi so that she could earn to bring up both her sons.
She arrived in Delhi on 10 August 1947 with her younger son, Saeed. In her autobiography, she describes her closeness to Vijayalakshmi Pandit, who was a staunch supporter of women’s rights, a politician, diplomat and also the sister of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It is with Ms Pandit’s help that she was able to secure a job in the All India Radio Delhi Office. Saeeda Bano thus went on to become the first female Indian news anchor.
The quality of her voice was hailed by many, and even ‘The Statesman’ had a few words of praise for her. However, life in Delhi was not an easy ride for her, and she struggled to find a footing in the metropolis. Being a single woman and a mother of two came with its own challenges.
Saeeda Bano’s story is one of determination and grit, as she was resilient and unafraid to live life on her terms. Bano’s journey had a message for all aspiring women in newly independent India. She urged them to take the initiative and write their own story.
Saeeda Bano’s Autobiography
Recognizing the ongoing need to position itself for the digital future, Indian Culture is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture. A platform that hosts data of cultural relevance from various repositories and institutions all over India.