‘Sultana’s Dream’ is a fascinating early feminist utopia, written in English by the Bangladeshi activist and writer Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain. In her fictional ‘Ladyland’ not only are men confined within the zenana (women’s quarters) but war, disease and famine are conditions of the past. ‘Ladyland’ is also an eco-utopia, a garden city complete with solar power, cloud condensers and hydrogen-powered flying cars.
Originally published in The Indian Ladies’ Magazine, 1905. You can read the text, accompanied by wonderful linocut illustrations from US artist Chitra Ganesh here
A Personal Anthology 