Interesting facts about Bengali physician Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi

Google Doodle praises the 108th birthday celebration of the first Bengali Muslim female physician Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi on October 15, 2020. Here are some interesting facts about Bangladeshi doctor Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ জোহরা বেগম কাজী).

Here’s a look at the life and work of Bengali physician Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi.

Personal

• Birthdate: 15 October 1912
• Birthplace: Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, United Provinces of British India
• Died on: 7 November 2007 (aged 95)
• Death place: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Father name: Kazi Abdus Sattar
• Spouse: Razuddin Bhuiyan MLC MP
• Sun Sign: Libra
• Nationality: Indian
• Famous As: Physician, professor, and social reformer
• Education:
  • Collegiate High School, Aligarh
  • Aligarh Muslim University & College
  • Lady Hardinge Medical College for Women in Delhi (MBBS)
  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London (FCPS, DRCOG, FRCOG, and MRCOG)
• Notable awards:
  • Tamgha-e-Pakistan (1964)
  • Begum Rokeya Padak (2002)
  • Ekushey Padak (2008)

Interesting Facts about Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী)

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi was a Bangladeshi physician. She was the first Bengali Muslim female doctor in India.

• Zohra Begum Kazi originated from the knowledgeable and influential Kazi family of Gopalpur town under Kalkini Upazila of Madaripur district (Dhaka bibhag or Division) in what was then Bengal, British India. Her father, Kazi Abdus Sattar was also a physician and a politician.

• At 32 years old, Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi wedded Razuddin Bhuiyan MLC MP, a prominent lawmaker, and a devoted social worker, and the only son of the Zamindar of Hatirdia in Monohardi of Narsingdhi district.

• Even though she didn’t have any children of her own, Kazi adopted and taught numerous children from impoverished families all through Bangladesh.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) was an active person in her personal life. She was an energetic cyclist, table tennis player, and a badminton player. She was multilingual and could read, write and talk in Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, and English fluently.

• Zohra Kazi additionally shared her brother’s affection for Kazi Nazrul Islam, Muzaffar Ahmed, A. K. Fazlul Huq, and other recognized characters of her time.

• Actually, Zohra Kazi started her professional career as a deliberate gynecologist at Mahatma Gandhi’s Sevashram, a charity association that gave free medical care to poor people.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) likewise served as an honorary secretary of the Kasturba National Memorial Hospital, named after the wife of Mahatma Gandhi, and worked hard to improve the hospital.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi had gone to primary school in various zones of India as her dad was a surgeon and was frequently appointed to better places.

• In 1928 she registered with unique excellence from Muslim Girls’ Collegiate High School, Aligarh.

• After two years, she passed her Intermediate (ISC) examination in science with unique excellence from Aligarh Muslim University & College.

• In 1935 Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi acquired an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree from Lady Hardinge Medical College for Women, Delhi.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) ranked First class First in her MBBS examination and was awarded “The Viceroy of India’s Medal” by the British government for her commendable accomplishment.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) was the first Bengali Muslim woman doctor of the subcontinent. Aside from being a government doctor, she worked voluntarily in various charity associations.

• After the partition of India in 1947, Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi got back to her ancestral home in Gopalpur, south-west of Dhaka.

• The next year Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) was extended to a teaching job opportunity at the Mittford Medical College, Dhaka, however, she declined as she wanted to seek after her education and do research. In any case, the Partition brought about no woman doctors in recently formed Pakistan as all the Hindu woman doctors left for India.

• In 1949 when Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) got another proposal to join Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as their Resident Surgeon (Gynecology) she concurred and settled in Dhaka.

• On 21 February 1952, Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi is said to have organized crisis treatment for the injured students of the Bengali Language Movement.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) was an intelligent student. She finished her FCPS (Fellowship of College of Physicians and Surgeons) degree – postgraduate training in specialties of Medicine – from Pakistan.

• In 1955 Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) got a scholarship from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) in London, UK, and successfully got a DRCOG (Diploma of the RCOG) degree.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) proceeded with her studies in London and acquired FRCOG (Fellowship of RCOG) and MRCOG (Membership of RCOG) degrees.

• Upon her re-visitation of East Bengal (at that point renamed East Pakistan), Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi joined Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

• During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi searched out and gave medical consideration regarding the injured Freedom Fighters.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) was awarded Tamgha-e-Pakistan (1964), and Begum Rokeya Padak (2002).

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (ডাঃ. জোহরা বেগম কাজী) passed on 7 November 2007 at 95 years old.

• Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi was posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak in February 2008 for her notable social work.

• On October 15, 2020, Google celebrated Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi’s 108th Birthday with a Google Doodle.