Nawab of Mamdot facts for kids

The Nawab of Mamdot was a special title for the rulers of Mamdot. This was a small, independent area called a princely state near Firozpur in the Punjab region of British India.

The Start of the Mamdot Rulers

In 1794, two brothers, Nizamuddin and Qutbuddin, became rulers of Kasur. After Nizamuddin died, Qutbuddin started to challenge the powerful Maharajah Ranjit Singh. In 1807, Maharajah Ranjit Singh took over Kasur and removed Qutbuddin from power.

To be kind, the Maharajah gave Qutbuddin a new area called Mamdot. This land was a gift, known as a jagir, which the Maharajah had recently taken from the Rai of Raikot. In 1831, Qutbuddin lost his jagir to his nephew, Fatehuddin. Qutbuddin soon died in Amritsar. The Maharajah then gave the jagir to Jamaluddin, who was Qutbuddin's oldest son.

Jamaluddin and the British

In 1845, the East India Company (a British trading company that ruled parts of India) offered to let Jamaluddin keep his land if he helped them in the upcoming First Anglo-Sikh War. This war was also called the Sutlej Campaign.

Jamaluddin fought against the British in the battles of Mudki and Ferozeshah. His brother, Fatehuddin, was killed in the Ferozeshah battle. As the war was ending, Jamaluddin realized the British would win. He then offered them help at Ferozepur when the Khalsa Army attacked.

Because he helped, Jamaluddin was allowed to keep his lands in 1848. He was also given the special title of Nawab. However, later on, people said he was not ruling fairly. An investigation happened, and he lost his ruling powers in 1855. Mamdot then became part of the Firozpur district, and the Nawab title was not used for a while. When Jamaluddin died in 1863, his sons and his younger brother, Jalaluddin, argued over who should be the next ruler of Mamdot.

Jalaluddin Becomes Nawab

On October 5, 1864, the Governor-General of India, who represented the British Crown, officially gave the hereditary title of Nawab of Mamdot to Jalaluddin. Even though Jalaluddin had fought against the British earlier, he was seen as fair and honest, unlike his brother. He was rewarded for his loyal help during the Second Anglo-Sikh War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

In 1870, Jalaluddin was made an Honorary Magistrate, which meant he helped with local justice. He died in 1875. His titles and lands then went to his oldest son, Nizamuddin.

Who Were the Nawabs of Mamdot?

Nawabs of Mamdot (Starting 1848)

• Nawab Jamaluddin Khan (died 1863)

Nawabs of Mamdot (Starting 1864)

• Nawab Jalaluddin Khan (died 1875)
• Nawab Nizamuddin Khan (1862-1891), who was the oldest son of the first Nawab.
• Nawab Ghulam Qutbuddin Khan (1889-1928), who was the oldest son of the second Nawab.
• Nawab Sir Shahnawaz Khan (1883-1942), who was a great-nephew of the first Nawab.
• Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Khan (1906-1969) (oldest son of the fourth Nawab), Nawab Aslam Khan Mamdot (middle son of the fourth Nawab), Nawab Zulfiqar Khan Mamdot (youngest son of the fourth Nawab).
• Nawab Pervaiz Iftikhar Mamdot (oldest son of Nawab Iftikhar), Nawab Suhail Khan Mamdot (older son of Nawab Aslam), Nawab Naveed Aslam Khan Mamdot (younger son of Nawab Aslam), Abdul Qadir Mamdot (son of Nawab Zulfiqar).
• Nawab Shahnawaz Mamdot, who is the oldest son of the sixth Nawab.

Mamdot Today

After the Partition of India in 1947, Mamdot became part of the new country of Republic of India. The Nawab at that time, Iftikhar Hussain Khan, became the first Chief Minister of West Punjab in Pakistan.

In India, the special hereditary title of "Nawab of Mamdot" was officially ended in 1971. This happened because of the twenty-sixth change to the Constitution of India.