Jahane Rumi In search of the unsearchable: O, my soul! where would you find your house?

1. 

   Crimson East
   August 23rd, 2007 - 21:18

   Well, if we’re going to start bailing out poor people descended from historical figures, lets start with the descendants of the thousands of rebels killed during the events of 1857.

   I mean, think of Bahadur Shah Zafar…his own “plight” was quite significant.

   To bail out his descendants because they’re poor people is one thing, and I can appreciate it.

   To bail out his descendants simply because they’re descended from a tired old man who capitulated to the British: that is completely different, and I don’t like the sound of it.
2. 

   cubano
   August 23rd, 2007 - 21:30

   This may sound a bit callous but why should the descendants of Bahadur Shah Zafar get special treatment solely based on the fact that they come from royal lineage? What about millions of other poor people of India? At least she is supposedly getting a Rs 400 pension from the government. There are countless Indian children who eat out of garbage dumps for survival. I think we should draw a line between romanticism and reality before getting too carried away. I can’t justify preferential treatment from the state based on birth-right but as you said charitable donations from a private philanthropist would be good.
3. 

   Indscribe
   August 23rd, 2007 - 21:45

   The man in his old age did stand up against British. His young sons’ eyes were gouged out by British and presented to him. He was exiled where he died.
   At least he was better than the Nizams and Scindias. Even in poems like the Rani Laxmi Bai lore we have heard ‘Angrezo.n ke dost Scindia ne Gwalior nagri chhodi thi’. And even after independence they are every where. Got all parks, called Maharaj. In both parties, so either comes their interests will be safe.
   Nobody should get preferential treatment, of course, but it had taken decades before even the meagre amount of pension was given to Zafar’s ancestors. And 60 years after independence we have thousands of new freedom fighters coming up every year and expenditure over their pensions going up exponentially though with deaths, the number should have come down.
4. 

   Munmun
   August 24th, 2007 - 10:34

   some of his descendants didnt do too badly. One was until recently SP Traffic in Islamabad – Sultan e Azam Temuri. He was transferred to the Motorway Police recently.

   I’m not sure why they, or descendants of other famous people, should be eligible for special treatment.
5. 

   RR
   August 24th, 2007 - 12:16

   Crimson, Cubano and Munmun: your points are a fair commentary on the post. The purpose of this post is not to say that Mughal lineage should get any preferential treatment – at all. My point was the larger indifference that we suffer from. At least these poor souls should have the right to earn a decent living. Having said that they are enrolled in a pension scheme and its ludicrous amount could also be reviewed.

   Adnan: thanks for putting things in perspective.
6. 

   Shamsul Haque
   August 24th, 2007 - 15:07

   We have founded Bhadurshah Zafar Memorial Society in Calcutta at 74, Phears Lane-Kolkata-700 073 (India) to bail out Sultana Begum from poverty. The address given some where in this comments’ column is a genuine address of sultana Begum. But we can not do alone any thing big to improve the living standard of Zafar’s descendents who live in West Bengal’s Howrah town at 103/12/C, Foreshore Road, Shibpur without the co-operation of you all. We hereby appeal all the symphatic bloggers to come forward for her help.-Shamsul Haque, Calcutta (India)
7. 

   gulnaz
   August 24th, 2007 - 20:11

   its really strange how we think nothing of earninig revenue through monumnets built by the moghuls but get all hoity-toity when it comes to giving them a decent pension! amazingly petty attitude i must say.
8. 

   Shivnath Jha and Neena Jha
   December 13th, 2007 - 05:22

   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.
9. 

   Latumoni
   April 10th, 2008 - 05:21

   Why do we need to help Sultana Begum???..Maybe .Because she is the direct descendent of Bahadur Shah Jafar. Maybe because she is the one of the few reamaining links to a glorious era in Muslim India…Maybe because we should be in some way be still showing some respect and support to the dynasty that left behind such an invaluable legacy for India…Maybe because she is a woman who needs help and we know about her. After all we can’t just waste our lives buying coffee in Barista’s and text messaging Banana Republic sales to our bubble gum chwing buddies can we???
10. 

    rokhsana
    September 30th, 2008 - 19:44

    My question to Shamsul Haque, Calcutta (India)
    How is now Sultana begum’s condition? How is her daughters and grand daughter? I knew about her from the web and interested to know about her.
    May I ask , could you do anything for her? Is n’t there some other royal family members in India who are related with them and help them?
    My other question is, I m in Canada and I am from Bangladesh. Is there anyway I can help her?
    Thanks.
11. 

    Rifat
    September 30th, 2008 - 22:11

    Many commoner, soldiers sacrificed their lives during many battles against British. We respect them all and still feel sorry for their fate. But in every war there are some people who become the symbols, sometimes they are the king/queen or some times general or others. In the Sepoy mutiny we had Tatia topi, Laxmi bai, Hazral mahal and Bahadur Shah. They all were symbols of the war. Many say Bahadur shah Zafar was hesitate to participate in the war. Now, none can make sure that really happened but if that was right can you blame him? We lost so many battles with British before that. My own grand pa is now above 80 and can not even move or sometimes can not think properly. I admire Bahadur Shah that at his that age he got the courage to act something that dangerous. Unfortunately we did not win for many reasons. He lost everything. Do you guys know how the princes were killed?
    I do not understand one thing, when Tatia Topi’s descendents got money or job becasue they are descendents of tatia Topi and no one oppose that (of course not me) so why people oppose when there is a question for baharur Shah’s descendants?
    Do you know when British made the new rule,if a sonless king adopt a son he(the son) will not be able to be the next king, many local maharajas involved with the war. So, you can see their intention. But none question their love for their country because they might have some other reason to join the battle but surely they loved their country and wanted the british to leave the country.
    I just hope Sultana Begum’s and her family will able to live a descent life.
12. 

    Vandana
    October 1st, 2008 - 16:07

    This is a sad, but not a unique case.History ,I am sure, is full of stories of one time rulers and their descendents,living in penury later on.Time spares no one especially those brought down by cataclysmic turn of events.Sultana begum is one such unfotunate person.
    The Tucy branch of Bahadurshah Zafar’s descendants live an ordinary(but not miserable) life in Hyderabad and one of them is a renowned chef who has been trying to safegurad the Mughal “family”recipes.The Uzbekistan government had even invvited them and they visited that country.
    Regarding this lady,I think although,people will argue against giving preferntial treatment just because of family lineage,I think she could be part of keeping history alive effort…..We should be like Islamic republic of Egypt that runs its main revenues from its pre-Islamic heritage.India has a priceless heritage :Buddhist,Hindu,Mughal,Jain,Sikh.We could be number one in heritage tourism but we are simply squandering everything away.
13. 

    Parbant Singh Maihari
    October 26th, 2008 - 12:54

    Dear Rokhsana,
    I have gone through your message to Mr. Samshul Haque of Calcutta. You may contact Sultana Begum on her phone 98319-32545 (India), e-mail : moghulbegum@yahoo.co.in, postal address : 103/12/C, Foreshore Road, Shibpur, Howrah-711 102 (West Bengal) India. She apeaks Bengali. She will appreciate your help.
    Thank you,
    Parbant Singh Maiahri
    e-mail : parbantsinghmaihari@yahoo.co.in
    Phone : 98315-81924 (India)
14. 

    Rida
    November 16th, 2008 - 11:08

    Hey guys, talkin bout decendents hey… well i m a living proof… royal blood is still alive… of the three sons who survived… from the war, 1 went to hydrabad, 1 to delhi n 1 to west bengal- we ve heard bout the bengal people… but i m alos tryin to figure out the other two… we think we r from the delhi people as they moved to pakistan… but cud also be hydrabadiz cos we know more about them… i m still searchin if i find more.. i will tell… but yes we r alive!!
15. 

    PLACIDO FERNANDES
    August 20th, 2009 - 15:44

    I have known sultana begum and all her family members personally for the last 8 years,when they used to come very often to live in mira road,MUMBAI, at her elder daughter’s residence.but at that time i never new that they were the decendents of the mughal emperor BAHADURSHAH ZAFAR,I just came to know very recently and was shocked.
    it’s a shame for the indian government and the people of india,to see sultana begum and her family living in utter poverty,while the proper place would have been a palace.
    I am very grateful to neena and shivnath jha,for bringing this full episode to light.
    an earlier intervention,by the prime minister of india,to get this royal family out of poverty,would be highly appreciated and respected as well.
16. 

    sandeep
    October 30th, 2009 - 10:38

    Am atpresent reading the wonderful book “The Last Mughal” and was curious to know about the descendants of Zafar. while searching i stumbled upon this site. Thanks for the info

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