Begum Mahmooda Salim Khan facts for kids
Begum Mahmooda Salim Khan (born May 1913, died June 2007) was a very important Pakistani woman. She was known for helping people and for her work in politics. She even became a cabinet minister for education in West Pakistan during the time of President Ayub Khan. This meant she was in charge of schools and learning for a big part of Pakistan!
Her Early Life and Family
Begum Salim Khan was born in 1913 in Amritsar, which was then part of British India. She was the oldest daughter of a famous politician named Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan. Her mother was Begum Zubaida Khanum.
After her mother passed away in 1919, her aunt raised her. She went to school at the Aligarh School for Muslim Women and then to Queen Mary's College in Lahore.
In 1934, she married Abdus Salim Khan, who was a government officer. His father was also a well-known person. Her husband worked for the British Indian government and later for Pakistan after it became an independent country in 1947.
At first, Begum Salim Khan focused on her home and raising her children, just like many Pakistani women. But slowly, she started helping people in her community. She became more involved in social work, which means working to improve society. Her efforts helped many people in Pakistan.
Helping Others: Her Philanthropy
After her husband died in 1957, Begum Salim Khan moved to Abbottabad, Pakistan. Here, she became even more involved in helping others. She worked with many other famous women social workers.
She became a leader in several important organizations. These included the Family Planning Association of Pakistan and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, which helps people in need. She also worked with the Lok Virsa Museum, which protects Pakistani culture, and the SOS Children's Villages, which helps orphaned children.
For her amazing work, she received several awards. In 1980, she won the Adelaide Ristori Award from Italy for promoting cultural activities among young people in Pakistan. She also received many other awards, both from Pakistan and other countries, for her social welfare work.
Her Time in Politics
In the 1960s, Begum Salim Khan made history. She became the first woman Provincial Minister in the West Pakistan Cabinet. This happened during General Ayub Khan's government. From 1962 to 1967, she served as the Minister of Education.
However, her time in politics was not very long. After a few years, she decided to go back to her social welfare activities. She continued helping people until she passed away.
Begum Salim Khan loved gardening and flowers. She passed away peacefully at her home in Abbottabad in 2007, when she was 94 years old.
