Saif Ali Khan and Begum Sultan Jahan.
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has now come home. He is recovering after surgery at Lilavati Hospital. The actor was attacked with a sharp knife. Saif belongs not only to the film family but also to the cricket family and a royal family. Saif Ali Khan is the heir of the Pataudi royal family. Saif’s family is also related to the Nawab of Madhya Pradesh. Among the former rulers of Bhopal, one name which has been lost in history or should we say ignored is that of Begum Sultan Jahan. She was the last woman Nawab of Bhopal, who wanted to transform the historic capital into a European city and was successful in doing so to some extent.
Ruled for 30 years
Sarkar Amman, later known as Sultan Jahan, was born on 9 July 1858 in Bhopal. She was born in the house of Nawab Begum Sultan Shahjahan and her husband Baqi Muhammad Khan Bahadur. As the only surviving child of the Nawab of Bhopal, Sultan Jahan was declared heir to the Bhopal Musnad following the death of her grandmother Sikandar Begum and her mother’s succession to the throne in 1868. After the death of her mother in 1901, Sultan Jahan ascended the throne of Bhopal and became the Nawab Begum of Dar-ul-Iqbal-e-Bhopal. Begum Sultan Jahan died in the year 1930. He ruled the kingdom for almost 30 years.
Had passion for Rolls Royce cars
Begum Sultan Jahan Begum was fond of Rolls Royce cars and at that time she had three expensive cars. At that time these machines were quite rare in the world. He owned three Rolls Royce cars. It reflects his royal lifestyle. It is said that she was not just busy fulfilling her hobbies. He also gave great importance to education. Even today his name is associated with education, progress and innovation. His special emphasis was on educating the society.
Nawab Begum’s relationship with Saif Ali Khan
Begum Sultan Jahan was the great grandmother of Saif Ali Khan. Sajida Sultan, daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the Begum’s only son and successor, was married to Iftikhar Ali Khan, the Nawab of Pataudi, who was the grandfather of Saif Ali Khan and father of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Mansoor was later married to actress Sharmila Tagore.
AMU’s first chancellor
Begum Sultan Jahan was appointed the first Chancellor of AMU when it was established in 1920 and remained in the post until her death in 1930. After his death his son Hamidullah Khan took over the throne and became the last Nawab of Bhopal. He remained Nawab until the city merged with Madhya Pradesh in 1956, about a decade after India’s independence.
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