Rokeya was born on December 9, 1880, into a landlord family of Rangpur in Payrabandh. Her father, Zahuruddin Mohammad Abu Ali Saber was just another indulgent landlord of the 19th century, immersed in consumption and luxury. Apart from Arabic and Persian, he was opposed to the discourse of any other language. Although he permitted the education of the male offspring of his four wives, studying and writing were forbidden for the daughters, and the girls were deeply submerged in a strict discipline inside the inner chambers. 

Even though she was the daughter of an affluent and resourceful family, all she was allowed to do was the recitation of Quran and Persian; she did not obtain the approval to study Bengali. However, Rokeya defied these restrictions, and clandestinely studied Bangla and English with the assistance of her elder brother Ibrahim Saber. Rokeya got married according to the norms of those times with an educated deputy magistrate. Her husband, Sakhawat Hossain, was a resident of the Bihar region. His first wife had met an early demise, leaving behind a daughter. 

His daughter was already married at that time. Despite the vast age difference, Sakhaowat Hossein had bestowed upon Rokeya a new life. One could almost say that it was Sakhaowat’s encouragement that unveiled the face of Rokeya’s literary prowess.The curse fell right on the 10th year of their marriage, when Sakhawat died. Both of their daughters had died at childbirth. Because she had no ties to her husband anymore, Rokeya had to leave her husband’s home. Through life’s various experiences, Rokeya understood that knowledge and consciousness were the paths to liberation from oppression. 

There was no alternative for her but to pursue education.To break the barriers of oppression, what was needed was education, schools. The orthodox society has never truly liked the initiative of empowering women through education. She encountered criticism and obstacles at every step. She spent countless hours building schools for girls, while simultaneously penning sharp critiques against the corrupt society and its elite.When the difficult battle was about to be won, an untimely death befell her. After her demise, her fame spread far and wide.Rokeya’s acceptance resonated within the country and abroad.