Few figures in Bengal’s medical history have left a legacy as enduring as Dr Zohra Begum Kazi. Remembered as a pioneering Bengali Muslim woman physician in the Indian subcontinent, she devoted her life to medical care, women’s health and the advancement of medical education. Her achievements challenged the social barriers of her time and helped create opportunities for generations of women to pursue careers in medicine.
Born on 15 October 1912 in Ranjangaon, in the United Provinces of British India, Zohra Begum Kazi came from a distinguished family. Her father, Dr Kazi Abdus Sattar, was a well-known politician whose family originated in Gopalpur village in the Kalikini upazila of Madaripur district, in present-day Bangladesh.
From an early age, she demonstrated exceptional academic ability, determination and self-confidence. She consistently excelled in her studies, overcoming the obstacles that confronted women seeking higher education during the early decades of the 20th century. At a time when professional opportunities for women, particularly Muslim women, remained limited, her academic achievements represented a significant departure from prevailing social expectations.
In 1935, Kazi graduated from Delhi’s Lady Hardinge Medical College, securing first place in the first division of her MBBS examinations. Her outstanding performance earned her a medal from the Viceroy of British India. The achievement established her reputation as an accomplished medical graduate and demonstrated what women could achieve despite the restrictions imposed by the society of the time.
For Kazi, however, medicine was more than a profession. She regarded it as a means of serving humanity and alleviating suffering. Guided by this conviction, she began her professional career at Mahatma Gandhi’s service ashram and subsequently worked at several hospitals in India before the Partition of 1947.
Following Partition, she moved to East Bengal, which later became East Pakistan and eventually Bangladesh. She subsequently married Rajuddin Bhuiyan, a member of a zamindar family from Hatirdia in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi, who also served as a parliamentarian.
Her arrival in East Bengal marked the beginning of an important chapter in the development of medical services in the region. In 1948, she joined Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where she confronted a major challenge in the provision of healthcare for women.
At the time, access to specialised medical care was particularly difficult for women requiring gynaecological treatment or assistance during pregnancy and childbirth. Social and religious sensitivities meant that some women were reluctant to consult male physicians. The limited availability of specialised facilities further complicated the situation, leaving many women without timely medical attention.
Kazi recognised that improving women’s health required more than individual medical expertise. It also demanded a healthcare system that women could approach with confidence and that addressed their specific medical needs.
Through her dedication and sustained efforts, she helped advance the establishment of gynaecology and obstetrics services at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and later at Mitford Hospital. These developments were significant in expanding access to specialised treatment for women and strengthening the institutional foundations of maternal healthcare.
Her contribution extended beyond treating individual patients. By helping promote specialised services for women, she supported a broader transformation in the way medical institutions responded to women’s healthcare needs. Her work also highlighted the importance of trained specialists, accessible treatment and professional medical support during pregnancy and childbirth.
Determined to deepen her knowledge and improve her professional skills, Kazi travelled to England in 1955 on a government scholarship for advanced medical training. During her time there, she obtained several higher professional qualifications, including DRCOG, FCPS, FRCOG and MRCOG, according to accounts of her career.
After returning home, she served as a professor and head of department at Dhaka Medical College. She also worked as a senior consultant at Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital and the Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
Her career combined clinical practice, teaching and institutional leadership. As a physician, she earned respect for her commitment to patient care. As an academic, she contributed to the education and professional development of future doctors. Her work demonstrated the importance of combining medical knowledge with compassion, integrity and a strong sense of responsibility towards patients.
Kazi also maintained a close connection with the Bengali language and cultural identity. Although much of her early life and professional experience was spent outside Bengal, she could read and write Bengali and spoke the language fluently alongside Hindi, Urdu and Arabic. She is also credited with participating actively in the Bengali Language Movement of 1952, reflecting her commitment to the cultural and linguistic identity of the people of East Bengal.
Her involvement in the movement is a notable aspect of a life otherwise closely associated with medicine. It illustrates that her interests and sense of public responsibility extended beyond hospital wards and medical classrooms to wider questions of language, culture and identity.
Her service received recognition through several honours, including Tamgha-i-Pakistan, the Begum Rokeya Padak and the Ekushey Padak. These awards acknowledged different aspects of her contribution, particularly her work in healthcare and her wider significance in public life.
Yet her most enduring legacy lies in the lives she touched and the opportunities she helped create. At a time when women faced substantial barriers to higher education and professional advancement, she established herself as a respected physician and academic. Her work helped demonstrate that women could lead in specialised medical fields and contribute meaningfully to the development of healthcare institutions.
Dr Zohra Begum Kazi died on 7 November 2007, aged 95. Her passing marked the end of a remarkable life, but her contribution to medicine and women’s healthcare continues to be remembered.
Her story remains relevant in discussions about women’s access to medical services, the importance of specialist care and the role of female professionals in building a more inclusive healthcare system. Her achievements also offer a reminder that progress in medicine depends not only on technical expertise but also on the willingness to recognise unmet needs and work towards addressing them.
On the anniversary of her birth, Dr Zohra Begum Kazi deserves to be remembered not simply as a distinguished physician, but as a woman who helped widen the horizons of medical practice in Bengal. Her determination challenged established expectations, while her commitment to patient care gave practical meaning to the principle of service.
The path she helped open continues to inspire women entering medicine and those working to improve healthcare for all. Her life stands as a testament to the lasting impact of professional excellence guided by compassion and a commitment to humanity.
