In a time when girls in Kurdish society were often denied formal education, Bahiya Hamid Beg Jaf stood as a bold exception—a pioneer who broke barriers and left an enduring mark on Kurdish culture, education, and identity.
Born on January 20, 1925, in Halabja’s Pir Mohammad neighborhood, Bahiya came from a noble and prominent family. Her full name was Bahiya Hamid Beg Majid Beg Wasman Pasha Jaf. Among fourteen siblings from three wives, she was the daughter of Hamid Beg Jaf, a district governor and progressive leader who believed in education for all—regardless of gender.
It was her father’s vision that led to the establishment of the first school in Halabja. To set an example, he took Bahiya by the hand and enrolled her. She would go on to excel in school, topping her class every year until sixth grade. When Halabja had no further grade levels for her, she dreamed of continuing in Sulaymaniyah. But lack of boarding facilities for girls halted her formal education. Still, she never stopped learning.
“After school, I wore Kurdish clothes and stayed at home doing housework,” she once recalled. “But I continued reading.”
Known for her sharp wit and warm humor, Bahiya never married—not by choice, but because life’s responsibilities called her in other directions. She cared for her ailing mother, managed her brothers’ households when they moved to Baghdad, tended to her father in his old age, and raised her late sister’s two daughters as her own.
Her contributions to Kurdish culture extended far beyond family. She was a poet, a preservationist, and a patriot. Her poems—rich in Kurdish spirit—were never published, but she recited them with passion. After moving to London in 1990, she co-founded the Kurdish Cultural Association and launched the Khanzad magazine, aimed at Kurdish families in the diaspora.
Even in exile, she remained deeply rooted in Kurdish traditions. She was known for her knowledge of Kurdish cuisine, mastery of regional dress, and tireless dedication to preserving Kurdish identity. One of her final wishes was to be buried in traditional Kurdish clothes.
Bahiya Hamid Beg Jaf passed away in June 2025 at the age of 100. She left behind not just a personal legacy, but a path for future generations of Kurdish women. Her life remains a powerful reminder of what courage, service, and vision can achieve—even in the face of social norms.
