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Nawab Begum of Bhopal (1858 – 1930) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sultan Jahan GCSI GCIE GBE GCStJ CI (9 July 1858 – 12 May 1930) was the ruling Begum of Bhopal between 1901 and 1926.[1][2][3]
| Sultan Jahan Begum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 | Princess Bilqis Jahan Prince Nasru'llah Khan Prince Ubaidu'llah Khan Princess Asif Jahan Hamidullah Khan I of Bhopal |
| Father | Baqi Muhammad Khan Bahadur |
| Mother | Sultan Shah Jahan Begum |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Bhopal State |
| Years of service | 1901 - 1926 |
Sarkar Amman[4] known better as Sultan Jahan, was born at Bhopal, the elder and only surviving child of Nawab Begum Sultan Shah Jahan and her husband Baqi Muhammad Khan Bahadur (1823–1867). In 1868, she was proclaimed heiress apparent to the Bhopal musnaid following the death of her grandmother, Sikander Begum and her mother's succession to the throne. In 1901, Sultan Jahan succeeded her mother at her death, becoming Nawab Begum of Dar-ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal.
A great reformer in the tradition of her mother and grandmother, Sultan Jahan founded several important educational institutions in Bhopal, establishing free and compulsory primary education in 1918. During her reign, she had a particular focus on public instruction, especially female education.[5] She built many technical institutes and schools and increased the number of qualified teachers. From 1920 until her death, she was the founding Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. As of 2020, she is the only women to have served as Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. She was also the first Woman Chancellor of any Indian University and was appointed in 1920. [6]
Not just a reformer in the field of education, the Nawab Begum reformed taxation, the army, police, the judiciary and the jails, expanded agriculture, and constructed extensive irrigation and public works in the state. Also, she established an Executive and Legislative State Council in 1922 and began open elections for the municipalities.
In 1914, she was the President of the All-India Muslim Ladies' Association. She was also a patron of the National Council of Women in India. Sultan Jahan's primary legacy, though, was in the field of public health, as she pioneered widespread inoculation and vaccination programs and improved the water supply and standards of hygiene and sanitation. A prolific author, she wrote several books on education, health and other topics, including Hidayat uz-Zaujan, Sabil ul-Jinan, Tandurusti (Health), Bachchon-ki-Parwarish, Hidayat Timardari, Maishat-o-Moashirat. Owing to her numerous activities, she was the recipient of numerous honours and awards.
In 1926, after a reign of 25 years, Sultan Jahan abdicated the throne in favour of her youngest child and only surviving son, Hamidullah Khan. She died four years later, aged 71.[citation needed]
Begamon Ka Bhopal (2017), is a documentary film directed by Rachita Gorowala and produced by the Government of India's Films Division. It explores her life along with the other Begums of Bhopal.[7]
On 1 February 1874, Sultan Jahan married HH Ali Jah, Ihtisham ul-Mulk, Nasir ud-Daula, Nawab Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur, Sultan Dulha Sahib, Nawab Consort of Bhopal, (1854–1902), 9th cousin, once removed, and a member of the senior male-line branch of the dynasty. The couple had three sons and two daughters:
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