Ebook: The Begum: a portrait of Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Kahn, Pakistan's pioneering first lady

Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan was the wife of Pakistan's first prime minister. She was born Irene Margaret Pant in Kumaon in the early twentieth century. A generation earlier, her family had converted to Christianity, and Irene grew up in the shadow of the Brahmin community's still active outrage. Always intelligent, outgoing and independent, she was teaching economics in a Delhi college when she met the dashing Nawazada Liaquat Ali Khan, a rising politician in the Muslim League and an ardent champion for the cause of Pakistan.
She was immediately inspired by both the man and the idea; they married in 1933 and Irene Pant became Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan. In August 1947 they left for Pakistan-led by Liaquat's mentor and friend, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Ra'ana threw herself into the work of nation building, but in 1952 Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated-the reasons for his murder are still shrouded in mystery. Ra'ana continued to be active in public life-and her contribution to women's...