Sultana Dream

It was an ordinary evening.
Sultana, a young woman, sat in her room feeling tired and lazy. She had been thinking about her life—the restrictions she faced as a woman, the way society forced her to stay inside while men moved freely outside. Slowly, her eyes grew heavy, and she drifted into sleep.

When she opened her eyes again, she was no longer in her small room. She found herself walking in a wide, beautiful street. The air was fresh, the surroundings peaceful, and the place looked nothing like the world she knew.

Suddenly, she saw a woman walking towards her. The woman looked confident, graceful, and intelligent. She greeted Sultana warmly and said,“Welcome, sister. I am Sara. Would you like me to show you around our country?”

Sultana agreed, though she was confused. She asked,“Where am I? What is this place?”

With a smile, Sara replied,“You are in Ladyland.”

A Land of Women

As they walked together, Sultana noticed something strange. Everywhere she looked, there were only women—walking freely, working confidently, talking without fear. She did not see a single man on the streets.

Puzzled, she asked,“Where are the men? Why don’t I see them anywhere?”

Sara laughed softly and said,“In Ladyland, men live in seclusion. They stay inside their homes in purdah, while women manage everything outside.”

Sultana’s eyes widened in surprise.“But in my country, it is the women who are forced to stay in purdah, while men rule the outside world!”

Sara replied calmly,“Yes, I know. But here things are different. We realized long ago that women are just as capable as men, sometimes even more. So, in our land, women lead the country, study science, and take care of society. Men are safe at home, away from trouble.”

A Peaceful, Clean World

Sultana looked around more carefully. The streets were lined with gardens. Flowers bloomed everywhere, filling the air with fragrance. There was no dust, no smoke, no noise.

People moved about calmly, without fear. There were no policemen, no soldiers, no prisons. Sultana asked,“Don’t you have any crime here? No thieves, no fights?”

Sara shook her head.“No, sister. Crime disappears when people are educated and treated fairly. Our society values peace and justice, so we don’t need weapons or violence. We spend our energy on learning and creating, not on fighting.”

The Wonders of Science

As they continued walking, Sara showed her some marvelous inventions of Ladyland.

Solar Power: “We trap the sunlight and use it to run our machines,” Sara explained. “We can even control the weather. If we need rain, we can make it rain.

”Flying Cars and Aerial Roads: Sultana saw vehicles moving smoothly in the sky. The ground was left free for gardens and fields.

Clean Environment: Since all energy came from the sun, there was no smoke or pollution. The air was fresh and pure.

Sultana gasped. She could hardly believe her eyes. “This is like magic!” she exclaimed.

Sara smiled. “Not magic, sister. Just the result of education and hard work. When women were given the chance to study and use their talents, they created wonders.”

The History of Lady land

Curious, Sultana asked, “But how did Ladyland become like this? Surely, it was not always this way.”

Sara nodded. “Yes, you are right. Once, our land was like yours. Men ruled everything. They spent most of their time fighting wars, wasting money on armies, and oppressing women.

One day, foreign enemies attacked. The men failed to protect the country—they were too busy showing off their strength. At that time, our wise Queen took charge. She gathered women scientists and asked them to use their knowledge to save the nation.

The scientists discovered how to trap solar heat. With this power, they created a defense system. When the enemies came, the women directed strong rays of heat at them, and the enemies fled in fear. Not a single drop of blood was spilled.

After this victory, the Queen decided men should stay indoors, because they had only created destruction. Women took leadership, and from then on, Ladyland grew into a land of peace and prosperity.”

Sultana listened with amazement. She could hardly believe such a place existed—even in her dream.

Men in Purdah

Still curious, Sultana asked, “So, the men do not go out at all?”

“That’s right,” said Sara. “They stay inside and take care of the home—cooking, cleaning, raising children. They are safe there.”

Sultana could not help laughing. “In my land, it is women who are locked inside, not men. How strange to see it reversed!”

Sara replied, “Exactly. Now you know how unfair it is for women in your world. Men say women are weak, but in truth, weakness is created by denying them education. In Ladyland, women were educated, and they became stronger than men.”

The Life of Women in Lady land

Sara then showed her more of Ladyland

Schools and universities were full of girls and women.

Women studied freely—science, philosophy, arts, everything.

They held positions of leadership—scientists, engineers, rulers, and teachers.

There was no fear, no oppression.

Sultana saw women walking freely in gardens, enjoying leisure as well as work. She thought about her own society, where women could not even step out without permission. Her heart ached, but she also felt hope.

The Beauty of a Peaceful Society

Everywhere she looked, Ladyland was like a paradise.

The houses were surrounded by fruit trees and flower gardens.

People enjoyed simple but comfortable lives.There was no poverty, no hunger, no inequality.

Sara explained, “When we stopped wasting money on wars and weapons, we used our resources for education, gardens, and science. That is why life here is so beautiful.”

Sultana’s Feelings

As she walked with Sara, Sultana felt a mix of emotions.

Happiness—to see a land where women were free, respected, and powerful.

Sadness—because in her real world, women suffered in ignorance and confinement.

She thought, “If only my country could also become like Ladyland! If only women in my world could study and lead, instead of being locked away.”

The End of the Dream

Just as she was thinking this, the world around her began to fade. The bright gardens, the free women, the aerial roads—all disappeared.

Sultana opened her eyes. She was back in her room, in her own country, where nothing had changed. For a moment, she felt disappointed.

But then she realized—the dream had given her a vision. She had seen what was possible. Even though Ladyland was imaginary, it showed her that a better world could exist if women were given freedom and education.

The Message of the Story

Sultana’s Dream is not just a fantasy. It is a mirror. It shows how unfair society is when women are locked away and denied opportunities. It also shows how peaceful and prosperous a world could be if both men and women shared responsibilities equally.

Begum Rokeya used this dream to send a powerful message:

Women are not weak by nature.

Education can make them strong and capable.

A society that values peace and knowledge, instead of violence and oppression, becomes like heaven on earth.—And that was the dream of Sultana—short, sweet, but full of hope.

A dream that still inspires people today to imagine a world of equality and justice.