Both Husnara and Gulshanara were born in British Guiana. " Mrs. Hakam was an active member of the Pakistan Movement and was one of the few Muslim women who worked with Mohamed Ali Jinnah and contributed immensely to the cause of Pakistan. Mrs. Hakam played a pivotal role for the emancipation of Muslim women in India and Pakistan including East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and dedicated herself for the uplift of their social and moral standards and for the cause of female education. She was the first lady Honorary Magistrate in Calcutta (1927) and an elected Member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly (1946).

Briefly, Husanara Khan (Mrs. H. A. Hakam) was born on June 7, 1887 in Georgetown, British Guiana. In 1906 she left British Guiana with her father, Gool Mohamed Khan, who returned to India with his family.

Mrs. H. A Hakam was a remarkable and extraordinary woman who selflessly dedicated her life for the good and welfare of people, particularly the poor and orphans. Also, she was an active member of many benevolent and charitable women's organizations. She was highly educated and excelled in both her political and civilian careers in
India.

She has been cited for many distinguished career achievements. Among her singular accomplishments, she was an elected member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly, she became the first female Muslim magistrate in Bengal, she was the founder of the M. A. O. Girls Scout in Calcutta and the Jamiat Khawateen for women in Pakistan, and she was the only female member of the All India Muslim League Council for Bengal, that was involved in the creation of Pakistan.

Widely travelled and respected, Mrs. Hakam was the founder and office- bearer of a number of social and cultural organizations. Her husband late Mr. Abdul Hakam belonged to an orthodox Muslim family and was a Zamindar (landlord) of Calcutta. He was learned and highly respected in the society. My late mother, Mrs. G. A. Wahab and my late father Dr. A. Wahab actively participated in social and welfare activities, and played dominant roles in promoting education. Mrs. Wahab, however, dedicated herself to the cause of Muslim women and Islam and vigorously pursued her missionary zeal to bring about radical changes in Muslim women's attitude towards developing modern education and the Islamic way of life."

Mrs. H. A Hakam died October 30, 1985 in Karachi, Pakistan. She was 98 years.