‘Incalculable Loss’ : Scholar Activist Rubina Saigol Passes Away

Pakistani author, rights activist and a leading member of the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) Dr Rubina Saigol passed away in Lahore on Friday.

The news was shared by WAF’s chapter on Twitter.

“With profound grief and sorrow, WAF Lahore regrets to inform that our beloved Rubina Saigol has passed away. Will honor her memory and carry on the struggle. May you rest in peace & power Rubi!” the tweet said.

Saigol’s colleagues, activists and academics paid tributes to her distinguished career on social media.

Former PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar wrote on Twitter that Saigol’s death carried deep personal significance. He mentioned that she was a petitioner in the Supreme Court against internment centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa awaiting hearing since December 2019.

Very sad. Her passing away has deep personal significance. Along with me, @a_siab and @BushraGohar she was petitioner in SC against internment centres in KP awaiting hearing since Dec 2019. RIP @RubinaSaigol. ASC Kh Ahmed Hosain and we all will again urge Hon SC for early hearing https://t.co/6YZRsYL314

— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) August 27, 2021

Academic Umair Javed wrote about the impact of her scholarly work. He described her as an “author of unmatched, incisive work on Pakistani education, nationalism, and culture, and a tireless activist for gender rights.”

Can’t recall a single year since starting undergrad back in 2005 where I haven’t read, cited, and learnt from her writings. Author of unmatched, incisive work on Pakistani education, nationalism, and culture, and a tireless activist for gender rights. May she always rest in power https://t.co/q9DU6nvuYO

— Umair Javed (@umairjav) August 27, 2021

Digital rights activist Nighat Dad described Saigol’s passing a huge loss for the feminist movement in Pakistan.

What a huge loss for a feminist movement in Pakistan. Rest in power Rubi 🌸 https://t.co/TZLSfu0lKW

— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) August 27, 2021

An incalculable loss. One of the mothers of the Pakistan women’s movement. Rest in Power Rubi Apa! https://t.co/VsrOzFyGrs

— Maria Amir (@Beentherella) August 27, 2021

Talking to The Friday Times, one of Saigol’s students shared that, “Many years ago at one point in my life when I was confused about what feminism stands for and if it is in contradiction with Islam, Rubina Saigol helped me get the clarity that I needed. I wrote an email to her and asked the questions that had been troubling me. My confusion was due to my family background where asking questions was not encouraged. She immediately responded to my email and sent me various resources to help understand the phenomenon. Looking back, I think my questions were rather stupid. But she had the grace not to insult me and tried to reason with me. She will be sorely missed.”

Career

Dr Saigol has authored numerous books and papers in both English and Urdu. Her scholarly work published in national and international research journals focused on feminism, educational discourse, nationalism and counter-terrorism.

Many of her publications were made mandatory readings for undergraduate and graduate courses by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Besides being a senior member of WAF, she was on the advisory board of Simrogh, a nonprofit organization on women’s rights.

She held a PhD in Education and Development from the University of Rochester and an MA in Development Psychology from Columbia University.