Almora (Uttarakhand): The historic city of Almora has given many famous personalities to the nation, including Bharat Ratna Govind Ballabh Pant and the dance maestro Uday Shankar. The list also includes the name of Sheila Irene Pant, who was the First Lady of Pakistan from 1947 to 1951 as the wife of Liaquat Ali Khan who served as the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Also known as Begum Ra'ana Liaqat Ali Khan, Irene was also awarded the title of 'Nishan-e-Imtiaz' and 'Madar-e-Watan' which is Pakistan's highest civilian honour for her services.
Sheila, daughter of Daniel Pant, was born in Almora to a Kumaoni Christian family on February 13, 1905. Her grandfather converted to Christianity in the year 1887. She completed her primary schooling in Almora and Nainital and shifted to Lucknow for her secondary schooling from Lal Bagh School. She did her Masters in Economics and Religious Studies from Isabela Thoburn College.
Her ancestral house is still conserved under Almora’s Methodist Church and her brother Norman Pant’s daughter-in-law Mira Pant and grandson Rahul Pant stay there.
Recalling her memories, Rahul stated that though she never visited Almora after her marriage, she used to write letters to her brother Norman.
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Throwing light on the first meeting of Liaquat Ali and Irene, her family informed that a charity show was held for the relief of flood-affected people of Bihar while she was studying in college. Irene was given the task of selling ticket for the charity show and she had gone to the Lucknow Assembly where she met Liaquat for the first time.
Initially, Liaquat appeared reluctant to buy the ticket but after much persuasion, he agreed. Irene asked him to buy at least two tickets to which he said that he did not know anyone to accompany him to the charity show. Following this, Irene said that she would join him.
For almost one and a half years Irene worked as a professor in Delhi’s Indraprastha College. On knowing that Liaquat was elected as the vice-president of UP Assembly, Irene sent him a congratulatory letter to which Liaquat wrote back to her and invited her for tea at Wenger’s Restaurant in Connaught Place. After a series of meeting, they got into a relationship which culminated in a marriage. Liaquat later became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Liaquat was having a son from his previous marriage with his cousin Jahan Ara Begum. He later married Irene on April 16, 1933, at Delhi's most expensive venue, Mendez Hotel which is currently known as ‘Oberoi Mendez’ and it was given the status of a heritage hotel in 1994.
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Irene converted to Islam after her marriage and changed her name to Gul-e-Ra'ana. Being the wife of Liakat Ali Khan, she not only witnessed history but also remained a part of it.
In August 1947, Gul-e-Ra'ana along with her husband and two sons, Ashraf and Akbar, took a flight from Delhi to Karachi as Liaquat became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and she was the First Lady. Liaquat inducted her in his cabinet as the Minister of Minorities and Women. Later on October 16, 1951, Liaquat was assassinated while he was addressing a public meeting at Company Bagh in Rawalpindi.
Following this, she decided to stay back in Pakistan and fight for the rights of women till her last breath. She also raised her voice against the conservative forces and vehemently opposed the Islamic law imposed by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who was a dictator. She campaigned against the military rule after Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged to death.
In 1954, she was made Pakistan’s Ambassador to Holland and then to Italy. She breathed her last on June 30, 1990. During her 85 years of life, she spent 43 years in India and almost the same in Pakistan. Though Rana visited India thrice after 1947 she never visited Almora.
Life Achievements:
Irene was bestowed with the title of Madar-e-Watan in Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made her a Cabinet Minister. She was also made the Governor of Sindh. She was the first woman vice-chancellor of Karachi University. She served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Netherlands, Italy and Tunisia.
- United Nations Human Rights Award
- Honorary doctorate in Economics
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Woman of the World, Turkish Women's Association
- Grand Cross of Orange Nassau
- Nishan-i-Imtiaz
- Mother of Pakistan
- Jane Addams Medal
- Woman of Achievement Medal
