Sultan Jahan, Begum of Bhopal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sultan Jahan Begum |
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| Nawab Begum of Bhopal | |
| Reign | 16 June 1901 – 20 April 1926 |
| Predecessor | Sultan Shah Jahan Begum |
| Successor | Hamidullah Khan |
| Born | 9 July 1858 Bhopal, British India |
| Died | 12 May 1930 (aged 71) |
| Spouse | Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur |
| Issue | Bilqis Jahan Muzaffar Begum Muhammad Nasru'llah Khan Muhammad Ubaidu'llah Khan Asif Jahan Begum Hamidullah Khan |
| Father | Baqi Muhammad Khan Bahadur |
| Mother | Sultan Shah Jahan Begum |
Hajjah Nawab Begum Dame Sultan Jahan (born July 9, 1858 – died May 12, 1930) was an important ruler of Bhopal, a state in India. She was known as the Begum of Bhopal from 1901 to 1926. She was a strong leader who worked to make life better for her people.
Contents
About Sultan Jahan Begum
Early Life and Becoming Ruler
Sultan Jahan was born in Bhopal. She was the only child of Nawab Begum Sultan Shah Jahan. In 1868, she was named the next in line to rule Bhopal. This happened after her grandmother, Sikander Begum, passed away.
In 1901, Sultan Jahan became the Nawab Begum of Bhopal when her mother died. She then began her own rule.
A Leader of Change
Sultan Jahan was a great reformer, just like her mother and grandmother. She believed in making things better for everyone. She focused a lot on improving education, especially for girls.
She started many important schools in Bhopal. In 1918, she made primary education free and required for all children. She also built technical schools and hired more skilled teachers. From 1920 until she died, she was the first Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. She is still the only woman to have held this position.
Sultan Jahan also made many other changes. She improved how taxes were collected. She reformed the army, police, and justice system. She also worked to make farming better and built new water systems. In 1922, she created a council to help run the state. She also started elections for local towns.
In 1914, she led the All-India Muslim Ladies' Association. Her biggest impact was in public health. She started programs for vaccinations to prevent diseases. She also improved the water supply and made sure towns were cleaner.
Sultan Jahan was also a writer. She wrote several books about education, health, and other topics. Because of all her hard work, she received many awards.
In 1926, after ruling for 25 years, Sultan Jahan decided to step down. Her youngest son, Hamidullah Khan, became the new ruler. She passed away four years later, at the age of 71.
Her Family
On February 1, 1874, Sultan Jahan married Nawab Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur. He was a distant cousin and became the Nawab Consort of Bhopal. They had five children together, three sons and two daughters:
- Sahibzadi Bilqis Jahan Muzaffar Begum Sahiba (1875–1887)
- Muhammad Nasru'llah Khan Sahib Bahadur (1876–1924). He was the heir to the throne of Bhopal.
- Muhammad Ubaidu'llah Khan Sahib Bahadur (1878–1924). He was a high-ranking officer in the Bhopal State Forces.
- Sahibzadi Asif Jahan Begum Sahiba (1880–1894)
- Muhammad Hamidullah Khan Bahadur (1894–1960). He was her successor and became the Nawab of Bhopal.
Important Titles and Awards
Sultan Jahan Begum held many important titles throughout her life. These titles showed her high rank and the respect she earned. She was known as "Her Highness" and received several special honors from the British Empire and other groups.
Some of her notable awards included:
- The Empress of India Medal in 1877.
- The Delhi Durbar gold medal in 1903.
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in 1904.
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI) in 1910.
- Companion of the Order of the Crown of India (CI) in 1911.
- The Order of Nobility (Nishan-i-Majidi) from the Ottoman Empire in 1911.
- Dame Grand Cross of the Venerable Order of Saint John (GCStJ) in 1916.
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1917.
These honors recognized her leadership and her efforts to improve life for people in Bhopal.
