Meet Begum Sultan Jahan, who wanted to make Bhopal like Europe, had 3 Rolls Royce, Saif Ali Khan is her…

Begum Sultan Jahan, the Nawab Begum of Bhopal, was the great-grandmother of Saif Ali Khan. Sultan Jahan Begum is remembered by historians as a great reformer.

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, who survived a deadly knife at his Bandra home earlier this week, is the heir of the Pataudi royal dynasty, the erstwhile rulers of Bhopal, who have left an indelible mark on the Madhya Pradesh capital. Among Bhopal’s erstwhile rulers, one name which has been lost to history, or at least overlooked, is Begum Sultan Jahan, the last female Nawab of Bhopal, who wanted to transform the historic capital into a European city, and succeeded in doing so, to some extent.

Who was Begum Sultan Jahan?

Sarkar Amman, later known as Sultan Jahan, was born in Bhopal on July 9, 1858 to Nawab Begum Sultan Shah Jahan and her husband Baqi Muhammad Khan Bahadur. As the only surviving child of the Nawab of Bhopal, Sultan Jahan was proclaimed as heiress apparent to the Bhopal musnaid following the death of her grandmother, Sikander Begum and her mother’s succession to the throne in 1868.

Following her mother’s demise in 1901, Sultan Jahan ascended the throne of Bhopal and became the Nawab Begum of Dar-ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal. Famed for reforms, especially in education, Begum Sultan Jahan, ruled the state for nearly 30 years, till her death in 1930.

A great reformer

Begum Sultan Jahan is remembered by historians as a great reformer, who established several key educational institutions in Bhopal, and introduced free and compulsory primary education in the erstwhile princely state in 1918, The Nawab Begum was also a member of Bharat Stree Mahamandal (The Great Circle of Indian Women) which promoted girls education.

During her three-decade reign, Sultan Jahan. the last female Nawab of Bhopal, focused on making Bhopal a progressive and modern city, where education, particularly for girls, was a priority. Begum Sultan Jahan built many schools and technical institutes across the city and increased the number of qualified teachers in these institutions.

She was also the founding Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), a post she ascended to in 1920, becoming the first woman Chancellor of any Indian varsity.

Apart from her focus on education, the Nawab Begum also introduced various reforms in taxation, the army, police, the judiciary and state’s jail structure. Additionally, she expanded agriculture in the the state by developing and extensive irrigation and public works system, and also established an Executive and Legislative State Council in 1922 and began open elections for the municipalities.

In 1903, the first budget of Bhopal was brought during her reign, and some of her developmental works include landmarks like the Lord Minto Hall, Central Library, Bagh Farahat Afza, as well as dozens of factories.

The Nawab Begum also imposed a liquor ban in the state and built the Yacht Club, which was her attempt to give Bhopal a European-style makeover, an endeavor, many believe, she would’ve succeeded in, had she lived for a few more years.

Her passion for Rolls Royce cars

Begum Sultan Jahan Begum was known to have a deep passion for Rolls Royce cars, and owned three of these expensive vehicles at the time when these machines were a rarity anywhere in the world.

had three Rolls Royce cars. This reflects her royal lifestyle. But she was not just busy fulfilling her hobbies. She also gave great importance to education. Her name is still associated with education, progress and innovation.

Nawab Begum’s connection to Saif Ali Khan

Begum Sultan Jahan was the great-grandmother of Saif Ali Khan. Sajida Sultan, the daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the Nawab Begum’s only son and successor, was married to Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Pataudi, the grandfather of Saif Ali Khan, and father to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who married actress Sharmila Tagore.

First Chancellor of AMU

Begum Sultan Jahan was appointed the first Chancellor of AMU when the varsity was established in 1920, and held the post till her demise in 1930.

After her death, her son, Hamidullah Khan, ascended the throne, and became the last Nawab of Bhopal, till the city was merged with Madhya Pradesh in 1956, nearly a decade after India’s independence.

The Nawab of Begum of Bhopal is fondly remembered for her invaluable reforms in education, public works, taxation, and state machinery.