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Sultana Begum - a surviving heir of Bahadur Shah Zafar
Neena Jha and Shivnath Jha have launched a nationed wide movement to protect musicians, artists, academicians and others who have brought laurels and pride to India through book - Andolan Ek Pustak Se.
Sultana Begum
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 as a part of their ongoing movement “Andolan Ek Pustak Se” and assured the couple that they would protect Sultana Begum economically, her daughters educationally and fulfill their all desires in view of the 150 year of 1857 Uprising.
During their six months efforts, the Jha couple has collected all historical official documents about Sultana Begum.
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 her only son Kamal Bakht and settle in Chandni Chowk to have glimpses of the Red Fort.”
On couple’s initiatives, on July 4 last 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 – Monograph on Ustad Bismillah Khan - to protect all such people and their families who brought laurels and pride to the nation.
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 Shah’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 Toluqari family, which claims to be Baron Gardner’s descendants as well.
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 as a part of their ongoing movement “Andolan Ek Pustak Se” and assured the couple that they would protect Sultana Begum economically, her daughters educationally and fulfill their all desires in view of the 150 year of 1857 Uprising.
During their six months efforts, the Jha couple has collected all historical official documents about Sultana Begum.
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 her only son Kamal Bakht and settle in Chandni Chowk to have glimpses of the Red Fort.”
On couple’s initiatives, on July 4 last 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 – Monograph on Ustad Bismillah Khan - to protect all such people and their families who brought laurels and pride to the nation.
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 Shah’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 Toluqari family, which claims to be Baron Gardner’s descendants as well.
Tags: Andolan Ek Pustak Se, Bahadur Shah Zafar, books, Campaign, Howrah, India, Mughal, Sultana Begum
July 6th, 2008 at 10:46 am
We are grateful for publishing it on your blog. We appeal all sensitive people to joon our movement for a noble cause. Once again thanks.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
So this is what happened of the descendants of the great Mughals, it’s a shame they have to live like this.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:49 am
ZAHER KHAA`NE KAA MAQAAM HAI. (Its a matter of great shame). Calcutta is a cosmopolitan city… with the CPI(M) in power. Prakash Karat is an educated man. Brinda Karat is a compassionate woman… Why did they not address the issue of this family. They are India’s Foremost Freedom Fighters. I can write for hours… on 1857.. and what really happened then. It is a very ugly story and i rather remain silent. How and WHO strengthened the British against the uprising… The role fundamentalists played… etc. It is a wide canvas.. Suffice to say, that India’s first and foremost freedom fighters were Students of MADRASAS (Factories of terrorism… according to pogrom-director Mr. Advani) ! Maulana Mahmood Ul Hasan… The Red Scarf (Reshmi-Rumaal) Movement.. Maulana Hasrat Mohani… and a log list… those who were arrested and sent to Kala Pani (Andaman and Nicobar).. and Malta.. etc. etc. etc. It is these Muslim Terrorists., who started the movement for India’s Freedom Struggle ! Bahadur Shah Zafar’s Family : in Calcutta (Sultana Begum) and in Saroor-Nagar, Hyderabad (Umm Hani Begum)… someone must take this issue up… at the highest levels. This must ROAR in Parliament… but who cares ? Democracy is not functioning well in India. A country with a 1 bn.+ population… 10% growth is for 10% population only. The rest are left to God (Allah / Eashwar / God / Local Diety).
July 10th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Shivnath Jha + Neena Jha… you are Karma-Yogis. You helped the Hoskote Family members.. getting them jobs in railways. Great work done. God bless you for that.
As regards rehabilitating Bahadur Shah Zafar’s descendents… in this case you will be facing total lack of empathy and compassion. Government (Central and State) will NOT do anything for these families (even during an election year). Thru private efforts, please organise a ticketed-concert.. invite a few film stars… and from the money collected therefrom assist these 2 families. That is the only way that comes to mind. Do this to please God / Allah / Eashwar. Do this to please the SOUL of India., cuz Bahadur Shah Zafar… and his struggle.. and his trials and tribulations… cannot be simply wished away.
Bahadur Shah Zafar’s remains must be brought back to India and he must be re-buried in the Red Fort Delhi. Media can play a great role. I am very very grateful to Dalrymple cuz he made the book. There should be a serial on Zafar. Usually he is portrayed as an old man with young women around.. a thin old man.. Truth is something different. Whole generations have come up fed up on wrong and FRAUDULENT history. Corrupting History (injecting hatred and stereotypes into it), is like injecting cyanide into a city’s water supply. The Govt. has failed. Democracy is displaying fatigue in India. Look at the MLAs and MPs… How someone with 2 acre dry land becomes a multi-billionaire (Chandrababu Naidu)… how some goons in Mumbai… advocating Marathi Pride… became multi-billionaires… The public is seeing / observing all of this. MLAs and MPs of today are RICHER and enjoying a higher standard of life than the Rajas and Nawabs of yester-years. Its a fact.
Jhas : Organise a concert… to help Zafar’s family. (Both the off-shoots.. the calcutta + the hyderabad branch)…. if it is possible for you. The politicians will NOT do anything. They only think about themselves.. How to make billions in the shortest possible time. … aur bas.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:23 am
July 13th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Every time I read your blog I learn incredible, fresh and significant matters. They are always evoking and well informed
Being an Indian I am ashamed. I have no words to express the pain.
Thanks allot for enlightenment….