In 1905, the Madras-based English-language periodical The Indian Ladies’ Magazine published a story that envisioned a utopian world where patriarchy did not exist.
This was Sultana’s Dream, written by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain— an iconic proto-science fiction story in South Asian feminist literature.
About Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880–1932) was a Bengali feminist writer, educator, and reformer.
Widely regarded as a pioneer of women's liberation, she founded the Sakhawat Memorial Girls’ School in Calcutta in 1911 to promote girls’ education. The school continues to operate today.
Her 1905 story, Sultana’s Dream, depicts a place called Ladyland. It is a place where women run everything and men remain secluded, leading to a reversal of roles prescribed for men and women in 20th-century Indian society.
Women move around in flying cars, harness solar power, and have enough time to balance their regular work and hobbies.
Ladyland: A Feminist Utopia
Peace and progress prevail in Ladyland— a utopian society led by women. It signals possibilities of a future society where the elimination of patriarchy has led to technological and social development.
Legacy and Impact
Although the entire story is but the narrator Sultana’s dream, ‘Ladyland’ is not only a place Sultana dreams of when asleep. It is a symbol of hope, a critique of patriarchy and a constant inspiration for working towards change.
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