Attia Hosain was born in Lucknow in 1913 into a distinguished Muslim family, which belonged to the feudal order the Taluqdars of Oudh. She has described this world vividly in the story collection
Phoenix Fled(London, Chatto and Windus, 1953) and her novel,
Sunlight on A Broken Column(London, Chatto and Windus, 1961). Hosain's parents both belonged to families of Arab descent, known for their scholars and sufi saints. They had lived for centuries in India, in the region which was once part of the Kingdom of Oudh, was re-named the UP (the United Provinces) during the Raj and is now Uttar Pradesh..
Hosain's father, Sheikh Shahid Husain Kidwai, Taluqdar of Gadia, was educated at Canning College, Lucknow, Christ's College, Cambridge and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple. He practiced
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Citation: Shamsie, Muneeza. "Attia Hosain". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 April 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2216, accessed 21 November 2024.]
