Dürrüşehvar Sultan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dürrüşehvar Sultan |
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| Princess of Berar and Imperial Princess of the Ottoman Empire | |||||
Dürrüşehvar Sultan by Cecil Beaton
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| Born | 26 January 1914 Çamlıca Palace, Üsküdar, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (present day Istanbul, Turkey) |
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| Died | 7 February 2006 (aged 92) London, England |
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| Burial | Brookwood Cemetery | ||||
| Spouse |
Azam Jah
(m. 1931; div. 1954) |
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| Dynasty | Ottoman (by birth) Asaf Jahi (by marriage) |
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| Father | Abdulmejid II | ||||
| Mother | Mehisti Hanım | ||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||
Princess Dürrüşehvar Sultan was an important Ottoman princess. She was the only daughter of Abdulmejid II, who was the last leader of the Ottoman Empire and the last Caliph (a religious and political leader) of the Ottoman Caliphate.
Her full name was Hatice Hayriye Ayşe Dürrüşehvar Sultan. After she got married, she was known as Durru Shehvar Durdana Begum Sahiba, Princess of Berar. Her name "Dürrüşehvar" means "kingworthy pearl." She was born on January 26, 1914, and passed away on February 7, 2006.
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Early Life of Princess Dürrüşehvar
Dürrüşehvar Sultan was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1914. Her father, Abdulmejid II, would later become the last Caliph. Her mother was Mehisti Hanım. She also had an older half-brother named Şehzade Ömer Faruk.
In March 1924, the Ottoman royal family had to leave Turkey. Dürrüşehvar and her family moved to Nice, France. A group called the British Red Crescent Society, which was friendly with the former ruler, asked Muslim leaders around the world to help the Caliph, who was now without much money.
The Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who was a powerful ruler in India, decided to help. He sent a monthly payment to the Caliph and also gave money to other family members. This helped them live comfortably after leaving their home country.
Her Royal Marriage
As a teenager, Dürrüşehvar was very beautiful. Many important people wanted to marry her, even though her family no longer ruled. The Shah of Persia and the King of Egypt wanted her for their sons. Prince Azam Jah, the eldest son of the Nizam of Hyderabad, also wanted to marry her.
In 1931, her father arranged for her to marry Prince Azam Jah. The Nizam asked for a large gift, called "mahr," for Dürrüşehvar. It was a lot of money, but a deal was made. The Nizam's younger son, Moazzam Jah, would marry Dürrüşehvar's cousin, Nilüfer.
The two princes traveled to France for the weddings. On November 12, 1931, Dürrüşehvar, at age seventeen, married Prince Azam Jah in Nice. Her cousin Nilüfer married Moazzam Jah. Local newspapers were very excited about the weddings, calling them "A Thousand and One Nights."
After the weddings, the princesses and their husbands traveled to India. They sailed from Venice on an ocean liner. Mahatma Gandhi, a famous Indian leader, was also on the ship. It is said that he met with the princesses during the journey.
When they arrived in India, they learned about Indian customs and how to wear traditional clothes like sarees. They settled in Hyderabad, where Dürrüşehvar received the title "Durdana Begum." She was also known as Her Highness The Princess of Berar.
Dürrüşehvar had two sons: Mukarram Jah, born in 1933, and Muffakham Jah, born in 1939. Her marriage ended around 1954. After her divorce, she lived in Hyderabad for some years before moving to London. She kept her title as "Princess of Berar."
Public Life and Contributions
Princess Dürrüşehvar was a very respected and well-educated woman. She could speak several languages, including Urdu, Turkish, English, and French. She was also a talented painter and poet.
She cared deeply about education and healthcare. She helped start a junior college for girls in Hyderabad. She also supported the Osmania General Hospital. In 1936, she laid the foundation stone for the first terminal of Hyderabad's Begumpet airport. She also opened a hospital at Aligarh Muslim University in 1939.
Along with her cousin Niloufer, Dürrüşehvar strongly supported girls' education and women's rights. The Nizam, their father-in-law, loved both princesses and called them the "jewels of his palace." He encouraged them to play sports like tennis and horse-riding. He also sent them on trips to Europe to learn and buy art for his museums.
Both princesses were known for their beauty, style, and kindness. They were active in social events and helped many people. Dürrüşehvar enjoyed riding horses, driving cars, and playing tennis with her friend Rani Kumudini Devi. Her elegance and charm made a big impact on Hyderabad's social scene.
She attended important royal events in England. In 1935, she and her husband attended King George V's 25th anniversary celebration. In 1937, they attended the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She was photographed by the famous British photographer Cecil Beaton. People who met her described her as a truly royal and commanding figure.
Later Life and Legacy
Princess Dürrüşehvar made sure her sons, Prince Mukarram Jah and Prince Muffakam Jah, received excellent Western education in Europe. She wanted them to marry Turkish brides, which they did. Her elder son, Mukarram, later became the heir to the Hyderabad throne.
In 1944, she needed help burying her father. She wanted him to be buried in Istanbul, Turkey, but the Turkish government did not allow it. Her father had wished to be buried in either Turkey or Hyderabad. With the help of a friend, her father was finally buried in Al-Baqi' in Saudi Arabia.
Dürrüşehvar continued her charitable work. In 1983, she supported the Durru Shehvar Children's & General Hospital in Hyderabad. She visited Hyderabad for the last time in 2004.
Princess Dürrüşehvar passed away on February 7, 2006, in London, with her sons by her side. She was buried in Brookwood Cemetery. She had been upset with the Turkish government's treatment of her family after the republic was formed. Because of this, she chose not to be buried in Turkey.
She is remembered for teaching the "power of silence" and for establishing many maternity units, schools, colleges, and hospitals in Hyderabad.
Honour
- Order of the House of Osman
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
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| Mukarram Jah | 6 October 1933 | 15 January 2023 | Married five times, and had children (three sons and three daughters) |
| Muffakham Jah | 27 February 1939 | living | Married once, and had children (two sons) |
