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Sultana's Dream
Sultana's Dream | Roquia Sakhawat Hussain
8 posts | 11 read | 14 to read
Sultana's Dream is a classic work of Bengali science fiction and one of the first examples of feminist science fiction. This short story was written in 1905 by Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain, a Muslim feminist, writer and social reformer who lived in British India, in what is now Bangladesh. The word sultana here means a female sultan, a Muslim ruler. Sultana's Dream was originally published in English in The Indian Ladies Magazine of Madras (1905), and is considered part of Bengali literature. It depicts a feminist utopia in which women run everything and men are secluded, in a mirror-image of the traditional practice of purdah. The women are aided by technology which enables laborless farming and flying cars; the female scientists have discovered how to use solar power and control the weather. Crime is eliminated, since men were responsible for all of it. The workday is only two hours long, since men used to waste six hours of each day in smoking. The religion is one of love and truth. Purity is held above all, such that the list of "sacred relations" (mahram) is widely extended. (Source: Wikipedia)
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hissingpotatoes
Sultana's Dream | Begum Rokheya Sakhawat Hossain
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ A thought-experiment short story about a woman who dreams she's in a gender-role-reversed utopia called Ladyland. There is no crime, work days are only 2 hours long, & tech advances made by women provide everything society needs. It points out ridiculous arguments for the oppression of women. I'm glad to have read it & (from the intro) learned about the Muslim Bengali author's early 1900s feminist achievements. #bookspinbingo #booked2022

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elizabethlk
Sultana's Dream | Rokheya Shekhawat Hossein
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If you have read the story, we want to know your thoughts on the author's clever sense of humour. #litereads

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bibliobliss
Sultana's Dream | Roquia Sakhawat Hussain
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• This was an interesting twist on what I am calling a feminist-utopia. It was quick, enlightening and altogether strangely enjoyable. Not even remotely feminist myself, but it provides food for thought about the realities of our world. Give it a try, it can be read in a quick sitting!! Thank you @SerialReader for providing this short story •

#read #strange #fiction #feminism? #classics

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Libby1
Sultana's Dream | Rokheya Shekhawat Hossein
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A fantastic two part story from @SerialReader .

Written in 1905, it tells the story of an imagined matriarchal utopia in what is now Bangladesh. Women rule their society through superior brain power, justice, and the use of environmentally friendly technology that they‘ve invented (I know!!!).

Wonderfully fun and joyous.

I felt a little homesick for such a society.

rockpools Well OK! About time I downloaded SR again! 6y
Libby1 Hi, @RachelO ! I hope you‘re having a good weekend. 🌷 6y
rockpools @Libby1 😊Hope you enjoyed the sunshine! 6y
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rockpools Hi Libby! I don't know if the Woolf travelling book has reached you yet, but *if* it has and *if* I'm next after you (I was at one point but things may have changed), pls can you give me a shout? I might need to give you a different address. Ta x. @River_Voice 6y
Libby1 Hi, @RachelO ! I haven‘t received the traveling book yet but when I do I‘ll let you know! 6y
rockpools @Libby1 Thank you! 😊 6y
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review
jen_hayes7
Sultana's Dream | Rokheya Shekhawat Hossein
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I‘m currently reading a book ‘assigned‘ to me by my boss and while interesting, my brain needed to be distracted for a bit. I didn‘t want to start another entire book, in comes #SerialReader !! This short story is in the Women‘s History Month section. Having read The Power recently, it reminded me of that a bit, but MUCH less violent. The ladies take over society with brainpower not force here. Really enjoyed it and definitely recommend!

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elizabethlk
Sultana's Dream | Rokheya Shekhawat Hossein
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Pickpick

I had never used Serial Reader before, and I am now in love. Gonna go ahead and #blameitonlitsy

This was in their #womenshistorymonth section. Super short read (2 issues, just a short story really). Woman in Bangladesh in 1905 wrote this. It is about a feminist utopia where they use solar power, cloud water, have 2 hour work days, and the men are sequestered away which has eliminated crime. It is wild.

So unexpected and fun. Recommended.

Texreader Sounds amazing!! 6y
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Sultana's Dream | Roquia Sakhawat Hussain

“Our religion is based on Love and Truth. It is our religious duty to love one another and to be absolutely truthful.”

MelAnn Love this quote! 6y
52 likes1 comment
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Bookartbookmarks
Sultana's Dream | Roquia Sakhawat Hussain
Pickpick

Calling all women! Read this beautiful short story about life if women were in charge. It is full of information and story in such a short book.

59 likes3 stack adds