Who was Bibi-ji? Image The Usher Engage room in the Usher Building is dedicated to the memory of a passionate advocate for education, Mrs Bhagwanti Kaur Bhopal, known as Bibi-ji (b. 15th June 1925, d. 30th August 2010). A lifelong regret of Mrs Bhagwanti Kaur Bhopal, respectfully known as Bibi-ji, was her lack of any schooling. In Punjabi and Hindi, Bibi-ji is a commonly used term to respectfully and lovingly address women, especially mothers and grandmothers. Bibi-ji championed education for her family and other people. Seven of her nine children graduated from British universities. The Usher Engage room, which focuses on outreach education, is a fitting recognition of Bibi-ji’s, and other mothers’, passion for learning. It reminds us of the power of education to transform lives for the better. Emeritus Professor Raj and Mrs Roma Bhopal, her son and daughter-in-law respectively, have made a donation towards the costs of running an outreach education programme within the Usher Institute. This article was published on 2024-09-24
