Born on August 21, 1915, in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her father, Mirza Qasim Beg Chughtai, was a high-ranking government official. Ismat was the youngest of 9 siblings & all of her older sisters all married early in her childhood, so she grew up surrounded by her brothers, who she often fought against for dominance. Ismat enjoyed street ball, horseback riding, tree climbing & many other activities it was frowned upon for girls to do. She studied up until the 4th grade in Agra, before transferring to Aligarh, where she attended school until the 8th grade. But neither of Ismat's parents seriously considered the importance of her higher education, both believed it was far more important for her to learn how to become a good housewife. Despite her parent's reservations, Ismat wanted to further her education whatever the costs may be; even going as far to threaten running away from home, converting to Christianity & enrolling at a missionary school, if her parent's didn't allow her to continue her education.
Finally forced to relent, her father sent her back to Aligarhh, where she entered into the 10th grade. It was there she met 3 writers, Rashid Jahan, Sajjad Zaheer & Ahmad Ali. In 1932, the foursome published a collection of stories titled, Angare, which was banned by the British government for, "it's themes of obscenity & mutiny". Rashid Jahan was a liberal, highly-educated physician & women's rights activist; Rashid was also a loyal communist supporter. He introduced communism to Ismat, who accepted Rashid as her new "teacher". Ismat came to blame illiteracy for the trials of women & condemned conventional ideas of "fidelity & beauty, as women's virtues".
After finishing her schooling in Aligarh, she enrolled at an IT college in Lucknow. where she studied English, politics & economics. This would be the first time Ismat was able to live freely from the restrictions of a conservative "middle class Muslim" household & community. Though she had begun writing stories between the ages of 11-12, she never published them under her own name. When her first story, Fasadi, was published in 1939, readers believed it was her brother, the popular author, Azeem Beg Chughtai, who'd written the story under a pseudonym. Her stories, Kafir, Deet, Khidmatgar & Bachpan caused a sensation in literary circles, which gave her the reputation of a preeminent author. Perhaps her most recognizable story was released in 1941, titled Lihaf, it told the story of the intimate relationship between two women. It immediately caused a firestorm amongst those who wanted to preserve traditional Urdu literature; Ismat was than tried in court on charges of obscenity. The bitter court case ended up overshadowing the rest of Ismat's career including the publication of her last works including, Joda, Genda, Nanhi Ki Nani & Bhool Bhuliyan; which were equally as well-composed as her earlier works.
After graduating from the IT college, Ismat worked as a teacher in a number of different locations. In 1942, she moved to Bombay (now Mumbai), where she got a job as a school inspector. It was here she reunited with Shahid Latif, a scriptwriter for the Bombay Talkies, a film studio striving to modernize the film industry in India. The pair had originally met when Ismat was attending school in Aligarh. Soon after their reunion in Bombay the couple married after a whirlwind romance. Ismat herself had an highly unconventional view on love "I consider love to be a very important thing, it's the very strength of heart & mind, but a person shouldn't become stingy in it, one should not become suicidal for it's sake. There is an innate bond between love & sex, gone are the days when love used to be a pious thing". She further added, "I am not an ordinary girl. All my life I've cut the chains that fettered me, I won't be able to take up another shackle. Obedience, chastity & other virtues expected of a woman don't suit me...". Shahid remained undaunted by her indominable spirit. And much to the progressive author's relief, her marriage had given her what she'd deeply desired her whole life, equal status.
Shahid also introduced his wife to the burgeoning film industry, having risen the ranks from screenwriter to producer. Ismat would write scripts & screenplays for his films, Ziddi, Aarzoo & Sone Ki Chidiya. After the release of these films, Shahid's career began declining as his films did poorly in the box office. And even after the death of Shahid, Ismat maintained her ties to the film industry. She was the mastermind behind the successful 1974 film, Garm-Hava, which was about a Muslim family after the partition of India & Pakistan. She also wrote for films like: Chhed Chaad, (1943), Shikayat (1948), Buzdil (1951), Lala Rukh (1958) & Shisha (1986). Ismat even wrote & played a small role in the iconic Shyam Benegal's 1978 film, Junun.
Her writing in both literature & film was characterized by a uniquely candid style. Language takes on a life of it's own in many of her novels including, Masuma (1961), Dil Ki Duniya (1966), Jungli (1970) & Ek Qatra Khun (1975). Her book, Dil Ki Duniya published in 1966, was Ismat's favorite of her novels.
In recognition for her great contributions to literature, Ismat received many prestigious awards from both government & non-government organizations including, the Padma Shri (1975), Iqbal Samman Award (1990), Ghalib Award & the Filmfare Award. Ismat Chughtai died on October 24, 1991, aged 76.
https://www.rekhta.org/authors/ismat-chughtai/profile
YOU ARE READING
Women in Literature and Music
SachbücherWomen who have changed the world through poetry, books and music.
