Doria Safik Poem by Bharati Nayak

Doria Shafik



A poet, Editor and Egyptian Feminist

Born on 14th December 1908

To father Ahmad Chafik and mother Ratiba Nassif

Was a principal leader of women's liberation movement in Egypt

Her efforts bore fruit in granting women the right to vote

By the Constitution of Egypt.

Having had her schooling in a French Mission Primary school

in Tanta until 16years, she went to study in Cairo

At the age of 18 she became one of the first Egyptian girls

to earn the degree of baccaloria secondary school.

On a scholarship she studied at in.

And also did her Ph.D in philosophy.

In 1935 and as a girl in Egypt, she entered a beauty pageant, which sparked controversy

She married Nour Al Din Ragai, a law student while in Paris,

On her return to Cairo, Doria wanted to contribute in the country's education

But denied a faculty position in Literature on the ground of being too modern.


In 1945, Shafik took the position of of La Femme Nouvelle, a French cultural and literary magazine

And later started an Arabic magazine, Bint Al Nil (Daughter of The Nile) , intended to educate Egyptian women

With the aim to solve women's primary social problem

And to make them part of country's policies

She established Bint Al Nil Union in 1948 ‘

In 1951, Shafik 'started a uniformed paramilitary unit of the Daughters of the Nile'.

After Egyptian Revolution in 1952, the Govt of Egypt recognised

Bent El-Nil as a political party with Doria Shafik as its President.

A highly successful woman though, the life of Doria Shafik was solitary at the end.

Being divorced from husband after a married life of 31 years

And under house arrest for opposing autocratic President

She led a life, solitary , reading and writing till the end in 1975

When she died by falling from a balcony.