Fate Of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s Descendants
I had recently posted a few verses from the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. Read this story by Indscribe that spells a heart wrenching denouement to the dazzling Mughal Empire.
April 20, 2007
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Just finnished reading the book, The Last Mogul,I can not see any problem for the Indian government, if they give help to the Mogul Royals been their history a specialy tragic one. Granted that the Sha Zafar was not the most assertivy leader,but what could he realistically do under the sircunstecies. Lets not forget that the family was victims of genoside. If the Russians have burried the entire imperial family with honors in St Petersburg, India can bring to his native soil, Emperor Zafar’s remains.Dont forget that he was the simbol that ralied all Indians to get rid of the invaders, his descendants should not be subject to abject poverty, it is a miracle in itself that any of them survived, shame on India if yiu dont show some pity,on this peaple that did not chose the family they born into, they have paid very dearly for it. With much love for Inda. Wilfredo Fdez del Castillo, Marquiss of Preux.
Comment by Wilfredo Fernandez — July 28, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Dear Sir Wilfredo Fdez del Castillo,
It is pleasure to know that you have noticed the misery of Sultana Begum, the great grand daughter in law of Bahadurshah Zafar. She is getting only Rs.400/- as political pension from the govt. of India and runs a roadside scrap shop in Shibpur area’s 103/12/C,Foreshore Road of Howrah town of West Bengal in India for her survival. General people occassionally come for her finacial help, but that is not sufficient. At least we should provide her a suitable place to live in with dignity. I hope, internation community will come forward to rescue her from poverty. She may be contacted on phone number 033 2641-1043. Thank you.
Comment by Parbant Singh Maihari — August 23, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
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Pingback by Jahane Rumi - In search of the unsearchable: “…O, my soul! where would you find your house?†» The plight of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s descendants — August 23, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
Pingback by poems by Bahadur Shah Zafar: Web Search Results from Answers.com — August 25, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Dear Sir
Vasco da Gama, only a navigator was cremiated in Cochin, but his remains was transported and recremeated in Lisbon with all honours. But an emperor and a pioneer in India’s freedom’s fighiting is in mediocre grave in foreingn land. On the other hand if He had cooperated with British and betrayed India, he and his progeny would have been better off.
It is the moral responsiblity of goverment of India to bring his mortal remains to back to India. And rehabilite his descendets as the deserve with diginity.
Comment by Baby Antony — November 28, 2007 @ 8:47 am
Dear Sir, Before reading the following paragraphs, we shall be grateful if you please go through http://www.tatyatope.blogspot.com or http://www.bismillahkhan.blogspot.com.
After Tatya Tope’s heirs, now it is Bahadur Shah Zafar’s descendant’s turn
Lalu Prasad to rehabiliate Sultana Begum, languishing squalour and anonymity in a Howrah slum
NEW DELHI, December 11: In the midst of pompous celebrations over the 150th year of India’s First War of Indepedence, a fact that rankles is that the heirs of the Mughal’s last emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, Sultana Begum, continue to languish in squalour and anonymity.
The story of middle-aged Sultana Begum brings tears to one’s eyes. She runs a tea-stall in Howrah to earn a living for her family. Bahadur Shah Zafar’s heirs are struggling to take out a bare survival. Due to the poverty, daughters in the family were deprived of higher education.
But, Union Minister for Railway lalu Prasad and Minister for Corporate Affairs Prem Chand Gupta have hailed the efforts initiated by a Delhi-based couple Neena Jha and Shivnath Jha - who met Sulata Begum recently as a part of their ongoing movement Andolan Ek Pustak Se –and assured the couple that they woiuld do their best to protect Sultana Begum economically, her daughters educationally and fulfill their all desires in view of the 150 year of 1857 Uprising.
The ministers asked the duo to collect all official documents and details about the miserable conditions at an earliest.
Living in a 8′x8′ room at Cowies Ghat’s slum located near Foreshao Road in Howrah district of West Bengal, Sultana Begam, the direct descendants of the last Mughal emperor has narrated her miserable conditions and governments – both centre and state – apathy.
She expressed her willingness to settle in Chandini Chawk in the National Capital to view the Red Fort, the last residence of Mughal emperor before he was exiled to Rangoon.
Sultana Begum, 55, said: “Before I take my last breath, my lifetime desire is to marry my daughter Zinat Mahal, impart education to by only son Kamal Bakht and settle in Chandni Chowk to have glimpses of the Red Fort.”
On couple’s initiatives, on July 4 this year, Lalu Prasad and Prem Gupta had rehabilitated Vinayak Rao Tope, the third generation of the front line leader of 1857 Uprising Tatya Tope. Besides financial assistance worth Rs.5 lakh, Lalu Prasad also granted employment to Pragati and Tripti, the two daughters of Vinayak Rao Tope in the Container Corporation of India.
During the life time of the grate Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, the couple had launched a nationwide movement “Andolan Ek Pustak Se” through a book on the life and art of the Ustad to protect all such people and their families who brought laurels and pride to the nation.
Besides a 200-page pictorial coffee-table book Lalu Prasad:India’s Miracle, the couple also authored two pictorial monograph – India Calling and 14- Prime Minister of Independent and Sovereign India to strengthen the movement.
Sultana Begum gets a pension of Rs 400 a month from the Centre and lives in a pathetic condition in a Howrah’s slum. Bedar Bakht, Sultana Begum’s husband died in 1980.
“After the death of my husband, I approached the West Bengal Government to provide an accommodation for my family. I got it at Trolly Gunj area. But, due to harassment by some local criminals and local politicians, I was forced to vacate the flat. Since them I am living here with my young daughters,” Sultana with tear in her eyes said the couple.
Sultana Begum is Howrad line of descent. From Howrah line, Sultana Begum is wife of late Muhammad Bedar Bakht, son of Jamshid Bakht and grandson of Jawan Bakht.
According to official records, there are three lines of descent from Bahadir Shah Zafar. From Delhi line, Bahadur Sha Zafar’s son was Mirza Fathul Mulk Bahadur alias Mirza Fakhru had one son Mirza Farkhunda Jamal, who had a son late Hamid Shah and late Begum Qamar Sultan, who married a commoner.
While from Hyderabad line, Bahadur Shah’s son was Mirza Quaish, who had one son Mirza Abdullah who had one son Mirza Pyare who married with Habib Begum. Bahadur Sha’s great-great-granddaughter was Begum Laila Ummahani who married married with Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy).
There are also descendants of other Mughal kings beside Bahadur Shah-II Most of them used to have or inherited governor’s or courtier’s positions; some were viziers or worked in the court of the Shah. When the 1857 Mutiny came most of them fled the capital and changed their family name from Mirza, Mughal, Beg, etc. to something more common. Some escaped to distant principalities and held courtier’s positions there. Examples include Jalaluddin Mirza’s line of Bengal zamindari under the Maharaja of Dighapatia and the Toluqarifamily, which claims to be Baron Gardner’s descendants as well.
Comment by Shivnath Jha and Neena Jha — December 13, 2007 @ 4:41 am
My father used to tell me about the Moguls, i am one of them, my full name is :
Shahzada Mirza Ahmer Hilal Shah Tehmuri..
My father Mirza Hilal Shah, used to tell me we are from the descendents of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last emperor of Hindustan.
My Grand Father name is Mirza Moazzam Shah and Great Grand Father is Mirza Musarrat Shah.
I would like to speak to some one in the family to know more in detail about the real family tree.
Please help if you know.
Ahmer Shah
Comment by Ahmer Shah — March 3, 2008 @ 10:14 am
Bahadur Shah’s remains must be brought to Delhi… It is a symbolic thing… but the RSS will never allow it… cuz RSS the hate-shop thrives on hatred and segregation… “US”… and “THEM”. Manmohan Singh must show some grit and get it done… a huge monument must be built in New delhi symbolising secularism. it will send a strong message. Bring in Zafar’s remains. That is the first step towards a Unified Secular India. Hindu India, Muslim Pakistan and a suffering Bangladesh… are simply not working. Statesmanship is needed now. No one will swallow the other… physically… economically… or ideologically. All will survive, thrive and even grow. Look at China. Look at the Confucius City they are building at the cost of USD 5 Bn. Hatred will destroy SE Asia. Strike RSS and the Mullah head-on. Soft-Hindutva.. Soft-Mullah… wont work.
Comment by Dastagir — March 4, 2008 @ 9:50 am
To: Shivnath and Neena Shah :
Sorry… for this unsolicited advice. I request you to approach SAHARA’s Subroto Roy… about Ms. Sultana Begum’s Case. I am sure, Sahara… will provide a decent home to Ms. Sultana Begum… as a symbolic gesture. I do not have the address of Mr. Roy. If Shivnath and Neena know it… or if they can approach him somehow… that would be fine. Please approach Subroto Roy… (but not thru Mr. Amar Singh of Samajwadi.. cuz he would make it political). Pls. approach Sahara Shri.. directly. Rest in the hands of God.
Comment by Dastagir — March 4, 2008 @ 9:52 am