Bhopal (Princely State)

Information

DynastyOrakzai
ClanMirazi Khel
StateMadhya Pradesh
Gun Salutes19
Accession1st June 1949
Revenue₹ 11,982,000 (1941)
Area17,933.16 km2
Population785,322 (1941)
Privy Purse₹ 1,100,000
ReligionMuslim
Hindi Nameभोपाल
Urdu Nameبھوپال 
Last Updated30th Oct, 2022

Present Head/Ruler

Nawab SAIF ALI KHAN, 18th Nawab of Bhopal 2011/-, 10th Nawab of Pataudi 2011/-, born 16th August 1970 in New Delhi, educated at the Lawrence School, Sanawar, at Lockers Park Prep School in Hertfordshire and at Winchester College, Winchester, England; a popular and successful Bollywood actor who made his acting debut in the 1992 film Parampara, has won many film awards, including the Filmfare Best Debut Award for Aashiq Awara in 1993, through to the National Film Award for Best Actor for Hum Tum in 2005; he is the founder-owner of his production company, Illuminati Films; recipient of the Padma Shri Award in 2010; married 1stly, October 1991 (div’d. 2004), Amrita Singh, born 9th February 1958, daughter of Sardar Shivinder Singh Virk (see Hadali), and his wife, Rukhsana Sultana, a political activist during the Emergency Era; Amrita made her Bollywood debut in 1983 with Betaab, a highly successful film, followed up by a number of other successful roles, retiring in 1993 to concentrate on her family life; married 2ndly, October 2012, Kareena Kapoor, born 21st September 1980, an Indian actress, daughter of Randhir Kapoor, and his wife, Babita Shivdasani-Kapoor; and has issue, two sons and one daughter.

  • Nawabzadi Sarah Begum [Sara Ali Khan], born 12th August 1994 (by Amrita Singh), a popular and successful Bollywood actor who made her acting debut in 2018 with Kedarnath and Simmba
  • Nawabzada Ibrahim Ali Khan, born 5th March 2001 (by Amrita Singh)
  • Nawabzada Taimur Ali Khan, born 20th December 2016 (by Kareena Kapoor)

Short History

The state was founded in 1707, when Sardar Dost Muhammed Khan, an Orakzai Pathan of Tirah, of the Mirazi Khel clan, after having served with distinction in the army of Padshah Aurangzeb, obtained the pargana of Berasia. With the decline of Mughal power, he rapidly extended his dominions, rebuilt the towns of Islamnagar and Bhopal, and before his death, made himself master of practically the whole of Eastern Malwa, Khandesh, and parts of Gondwana and Bundelkhand.

Predecessor

  • Khan-i-Muazzam Masnad-i-Ala Nawab DOST MUHAMMED KHAN, 1st Nawab of Bhopal 1707/1728, born 1672 in Tirah, son of Sardar Nur Muhammed Khan, educated privately, he was granted the titles of Nawab and Diler Jang in 1717, by the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar, married (amongst others) 1stly, Mehraj Bibi, married 2ndly, Fatah Bibi, married 4thly, Taj Bibi (née Jai Kunwar), and had issue, six sons and five daughters. He died in March 1728.
    • Nawab Yar Muhammed Khan (qv)
    • Nawabzada Sultan Muhammed Khan, born 1720, married and had issue.
      • Sahibzada Murid Muhammed Khan, married and had issue.
        • Nawab Haidar Muhammed Khan, founder of Pathari.
      • Sahibzadi Zulekha Bibi, married Nawab of Kurwai.
    • Nawabzada Sardar Muhammed Khan
    • Nawabzada Fazil Muhammed Khan, married and had issue.
      • Sahibzada Sharif Muhammed Khan, married and had issue.
        • Nawab Wazir Muhammed Khan (qv)
    • Nawabzada Wazil Muhammed Khan, married Izzat Begum, and had issue.
      • Bahu Begum (née Saleha Begum), married her cousin, Nawab Faiz Muhammed Khan. She died sp.
    • Nawabzada Khan Bahadur Muhammed Khan
  • Nawab YAR MUHAMMED KHAN, 2nd Nawab of Bhopal 1728/1742, born 1709, he was installed on the musnaid on 30th August 1728, he successfully resisted the encroachments of the Marathas, till his death; Nizam conferred on him the title of Nawab and the rank of Amir, together with the Mahi Maratib or insignia of the Fish, drums, banners, and other insignia of royalty; granted a mansab of 5,000 zat and 5,000 sowar by Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah; married (amongst others), Mamola Begum, born 1715, she died sp in 1795, she ably managed the affairs of the state till her death, and had issue. He died 1742, buried at Islamnagar.
    • Nawab Faiz Muhammed Khan (qv)
    • Nawab Hayat Muhammed Khan (qv)
    • Nawabzada Saeed Muhammed Khan
    • Nawabzada Husain Muhammed Khan
    • Nawabzada Yasin Muhammed Khan, Diwan of Bhopal, died after 1776.
    • Moti Begum
  • Nawab FAIZ MUHAMMED KHAN, 3rd Nawab of Bhopal 1742/1777, born 1731, he took up a life of religious austerity, the defeat of the Marathas at Panipat, bought a degree of peace to the state; he moved the capital from Islamnagar to Bhopal, married his cousin, Bahu Begum (née Saleha Begum). He died sp on 12th December 1777.
  • Nawab HAYAT MUHAMMED KHAN, 4th Nawab of Bhopal 1777/1807, born 1734, he was installed on the musnaid on 3rd January 1778, he too was of a religious turn of mind and entrusted the running of the state to two Muslim converts; with the death of the second administrator in 1798, a period of maladministration set in, which rapidly brought the state to the verge of ruin; a cousin of the Nawab, turned around this state of affairs, married (amongst others), Asmat Begum, died 30th December 1797, and had issue. He died 17th November 1807.
    • Nawab Ghous Muhammed Khan (qv)
    • Nawabzada Taj Muhammad Khan, married, and had issue, one daughter.
      • Malika Bibi
  • Nawab GHOUS MUHAMMED KHAN, 5th Nawab of Bhopal 1807/1826, born 1767, he was only the nominal ruler, as Wazir Muhammed Khan continued to run the affairs of the state; he invited the Marathas to expel the minister, who was forced to retire to Ginnourgarh, a strong hill forces; after the Marathas left, Wazir Muhammed Khan, returned and drove out the remaining Maratha officials and rapidly retook the plundered lands; in 1813, Gwalior and Nagpur forces combined to lay siege against Bhopal, were ultimately driven back; married (amongst others), Zeenat Begum, died 1827, and had issue, 65 children. He died 1826.
    • Nawabzada Moiz Muhammed Khan (by Zeenat Begum)
    • Nawab Faujdar Muhammed Khan (by Zeenat Begum) (qv)
    • Nawab Sultan Qudsia Begum (née Gohar Ara) (by Zeenat Begum) (qv)
  • Nawab WAZIR MUHAMMED KHAN, 6th Nawab of Bhopal 1807/1816, born 1766, Diwan of Bhopal, Commander-in-Chief of the Bhopal Army, Nawab of Bhopal in opposition to Nawab Ghous Muhammed Khan, he started to negotiate a treaty with the British but died before it was finalized; married and had issue. He died 16th March 1816, buried at Bara Bagh.
    • Nawabzada Amir Muhammed Khan, married Munawwar Jahan, sister of Asad Ali Khan of Basoda, and had issue. He died 1854.
      • Nawab Munir Muhammed Khan (qv)
      • Nawab Jahangir Muhamnmed Khan (qv)
    • Nawab Nazar Muhammed Khan (qv)
  • Nawab NAZAR MUHAMMED KHAN, 7th Nawab of Bhopal 1816/1819, born 1791, he signed an agreement with the British in 1817, which was formalized the following year; married 1817 (his cousin), Nawab Sultan Qudsia Begum, born 1801, died 1881 (see above), and had issue. He died 19th November 1819.
    • Nawab Sultan Sikander Begum (qv)
  • Nawab MUNIR MUHAMMED KHAN, 8th Nawab of Bhopal 1819/1827, installed 9th December 1819,
  • Nawab Sultan Qudsia Begum, 9th Nawab Begum of Bhopal 1819/1837, C.I., born 1801, married Nawab Nazar Muhammed Khan (see above), and had issue. She died 1881.
  • Nawab JAHANGIR MUHAMMED KHAN, 10th Nawab of Bhopal 1837/1844, born 1816, installed 29th November 1837, married 18th April 1835, Nawab Sultan Sikander Begum, born 1818, died 30th November 1868 (see below), and had issue. He died 1844.
    • HH Nawab Shah Jehan Begum (qv)
    • Nawabzada Dastgir Muhammed Khan (by a concubine)
  • Nawab FAUDJAR MUHAMMED KHAN, 11th Nawab of Bhopal 1844/1847 (abdicated), born 1811, died after 1847.
  • Nawab Sultan Sikander Begum, 12th Nawab Begum of Bhopal 1847/1868, born 1818, married Nawab Jahangir Muhammed Khan (see above), and had issue. She died 30th November 1868.
  • HH Nawab Shah Jehan Begum, 13th Nawab Begum of Bhopal 1868/1901, born 3rd July 1838, married 1stly, 18th July 1855, Sardar Bakshi Baqi Muhammed Khan, died June 1867, married 2ndly, 8th May 1871, Nawab Wala Jah Amin ul-Mulk Syed Siddiq Hasan Khan, born 14th October 1832 at Bareilly, died 26th May 1890 and had issue. She died 16th June 1901.
    • HH Nawab Sultan Jahan Begum (by 1st husband)
    • Nawabzadi Suleiman Jahan, born 1861, died 1866.
  • HH Nawab Sultan Jahan Begum, 14th Nawab Begum of Bhopal 1901/1926 (abdicated 29th April 1926), born 9th July 1858, G.C.S.I. [cr.1910], G.C.I.E. [cr.1904], G.B.E. (civil) [cr.1918], C.I., a Donat of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, married on 1st February 1875, Nawab Ihtisham ul-Mulk Sultan Daulah Ahmad Ali Khan of Jalalabad, born 1854, died December 1901, and had issue. She died 12th May 1930.
    • Nawabzadi Bilqis Jahan, born 25th October 1875, died 1887.
    • Col. Nawab Alijah Hafiz Muhammed Nasirullah Khan Bahadur K.C.S.I., born 4th December 1876, married 17th January 1902, Qaisar Dulhan, and had issue, two sons and one daughter. He died 3rd September 1924.
      • Sahibzada Habibullah Muhammed Khan, born 1903, married 1stly, Nawab Jan, married 2ndly, Feroza Dulhan Begum. He died 1930.
      • Sahibzada Rafiqullah Muhammed Khan, born 1909.
      • Sahibzadi Noor Jehan Begum
    • Gen. Moshin ul-Mulk Nawab Haji Hafiz Muhammed Ubaidullah Khan Bahadur C.S.I., born 3rd November 1878, C.S.I. [cr. xx.6.1912], privately educated under the supervision of his mother; A.D.C. to His Excellency the Viceroy; Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the Bhopal State, a Colonel of the Imperial Service Troops of Bhopal and an Honorary Captain of the British Forces; Trustee of the M.A.O College, Aligarh; married 17th January 1902, Shaharyar Dulhan, and had issue. He died 24th March 1924.
      • Sahibzadi Birjis Jahan
      • Sahibzada Wahid Muhammed Khan, married 1924, Sheher Banu Begum, died 1924. He died sp in 1924.
      • Major Nawabzada Fakir ul-Mulk Muhammad Said uz-Zafar Khan, born in January 1907, he received military training with the 1st Batallion “the Black Watch” (42nd Royal Highlanders) 1931-1932 and was attached to “Staff Headquarters”, Mhow, C.I., 1932-1933; Military Secretary to HH the Nawab of Bhopal 1934-1935, and Commanding Officer, “Bhopal Sultania Infantry”, 1935-1936; Member of the Court, Muslim University, Aligarh; successful horse owner and breeder; married Nawabzadi Shahnoor Jehan Begum, daughter of Maj. Meherban Nawab Abdu’l Majid Khan II Diler Jang Bahadur, Nawab of Savanur, and his wife, Nawab Khaliqunnissa Begum, and had issue.
        • Sahibzadi Enver Zia Sultana, married Shri Mahendra Mathur, son of Shri Amarnath Mathur, and has issue, three children.
        • Sahibzada Rashid Muhammed Khan
      • Major Nawabzada Imad ud-daulah Yemin ul-Mulk Muhammad Rashid uz-Zaffar Khan B.A., born in November 1909 or November 1908, educated privately and at the University, Aligarh, graduating in 1932; Captain of the University Hockey Team in 1932, Secretary of the Historical Society, India; a lover of art and literature, and a patron of Urdu poets; he completed a course of military training at the Central India States O.T.C. at Indore; Staff Officer, ‘Q’ Branch, attached to different area and District Headquarters, and the central command, Agra for Staff Training; subsequently promoted to ‘Chief of Staff’, Bhopal State Forces; he donated generously to the H.E. the Viceroy’s War Fund; undertook a tour of the Middle East in October 1943; he took an interest in education for the people of Bhopal and also many private and local charitable institutions; donated Rs 1,44,000 (with his brother) to the Aligarh University for higher Technical education; Member of the University Court, Aligarh; Minister for Education and Local Self-Government in Bhopal State 1948-1949; Vice-President, Indian Hockey Federation; founder of the ‘Bhopal Stud Farm’ for the breeding of racehorse; Commodore of the Bhopal Yacht Club; Vice-Patron of the Bhopal Hockey Association of All-India Obeidullah Khan Hockey Tournament.
      • HH Nawab Begum Batool Bi, married HH Nawab Hafiz Muhammed Ismail Ali Khan, Nawab of Tonk, and had issue.
    • Nawabzadi Asif Jahan, born 5th August 1880, died 1894.
    • Col. HH Nawab Hamidullah Khan (qv)
  • Col. HH Sikander Saulat Iftikhar ul-Mulk Nawab MUHAMMAD HAMIDULLAH KHAN Bahadur G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., C.V.O., B.A., LL.D., 15th Nawab of Bhopal 1926/1960, born 9th September 1894, he succeeded to the musnaid in May 1926; educated at Bhopal and Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh (graduated 1905) and later at Allahabad University (BA Law 1915), appointed President of Board of Bhopal Municipality 1914/-, Chief Secretary, Bhopal Government 1916, Finance Minister Bhopal, Hon. A.D.C. to the Viceroy of India 1922, A.D.C. to HRH the Prince of Wales 1922, Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes during 1931-32; President of the General Council (Daly College) 1940/1942; G.C.S.I. [cr.1932], G.C.I.E. [cr.1929], C.S.I. [cr.1921], C.V.O. [cr.1922], he enjoys a 21 gun local salute; married 1stly, 5th September 1905, HH Maimuna Sultan Shah Banu Begum Sahiba, born 1900, died 1982, married 2ndly, about 1948, Aftab Jahan, and had issue. He died 4th February 1960 at Bhopal.
    • Gauhar-e-Taj Surayya Jah Nawabzadi Abida Sultan Begam Sahiba, born 28th August 1913, educated privately; Chief Secretary, Department of Deori Khas; President of the Bhopal state Cabinet; Pakistani Ambassador to Brazil, President of the Karachi Council, Muslim League, married 1933 (separated 1934), Nawab Sarwar Ali Khan of Kurwai, and had issue. She died 11th May 2002 in Karachi.
    • Mehr-e-Taj Nawabzadi Sajida Sultan Begam (qv)
    • Taj Dulhan Qamar e-Taj Nawabzadi Rabia Sultan Begam, born 21st November 1916, married Agha Mirza, and had issue. She died in April 2000.
      • Nawabzada Nasir Mirza, married and has issue.
        • Sahibzada Yasser Mirza
      • Sahibzadi Faiza Sultan, born 1945, married Sardar Akbar khan, and has issue.
        • Sardar Taimur Khan
        • Sardar Nadir Khan
  • HH Nawab Begum Mehr-e-Taj Sajida Sultan, 16th Nawab Begum of Bhopal 1960/1995 , born 4th August 1915, married 1938, Nawab Muhammed Iftikhar Ali Khan of Pataudi, and had issue, one son and three daughters. She died 5th September 1995 at New Delhi.
    • HH Nawab Muhammad Mansur Ali Khan (qv)
    • Nawabzadi Saleha Sultan, born 14th January 1940
    • Nawabzadi Qudsia Sultan, born 15th March 1946, died 5th November 1989.
    • Nawabzadi Sabiha Sultan, born 30th March 1942
  • HH Nawab Muhammad Mansur Ali Khan, 17th Nawab of Bhopal 1995/2011, 9th Nawab of Pataudi 1952/2011, educated at Welham Boys’ School in Dehradun, Lockers Park Prep School in Hertfordshire, Winchester College, and Balliol College, Oxford; former captain of the Indian cricket team 1962/1970, he played in 46 Test matches for India between 1961 and 1975 as a right-hand batsman with a high score of 203 not out and a Test batting average at 34.91; his father also was Captain of the Indian Cricket Team, a rare distinction in Test cricket; recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1964 and the Padma Shri in 1967; married 27th December 1968 at Calcutta, Sharmila Tagore, born 8th December 1944 in Hyderabad, she took the name of Ayesha Sultan on her conversion; an actress who made her debut in the 1959 film Apur Sansar, she heads the Indian Film Censor Board from April 2005, she was chosen as an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in December 2005, she has won the following awards, Filmfare Best Actress Award in 1969 (Aradhana), National Film Award for Best Actress in 1976 (Mausam), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003; and had issue, one son and two daughters. He died of respiratory failure on 22nd September 2011 at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, and was buried in Pataudi.
    • Nawabzada Saif Ali Khan, he succeeded as Nawab Saif Ali Khan (qv)
    • Nawabzadi Saba Ali Khan, born 1976, Jewellry designer, educated at the British School in Delhi and studied advertising from the Delhi college of Arts, worked in the advertising agency, Lintas, for a couple of months, studied at the Gemological Institute of America from 1997. Chief Mutawali of the Awqaf-e-Shahi Bhopal since 2011 and Caretaker of the Bhopal Ruba’at in Medina since 2012.
    • Nawabzadi Soha Ali Khan, born 4th October 1978 in New Delhi; educated at The British School in New Delhi, then studied History at Balliol College, Oxford University and has a Masters in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences; she worked for the Ford Foundation and Citibank and served on the Advisory Board for a new project of the public entrepreneur group, Res Publica. She has also recently modeled for the spring-summer collection of Globus, an Indian chain of boutique. She made her acting debut with the Bollywood production Dil Maange More (2004); married 25th January 2015 in Mumbai, Kunal Khemu, born 25th May 1983 in Srinagar, an Actor, educated at Niranjanlal Dalmia High School, Mumbai and at Amity University, son of Mr. Ravi Kemmu, and his wife, Mrs. Jyoti Kemmu.
  • Nawab SAIF ALI KHAN, 18th Nawab of Bhopal 2011/-, 10th Nawab of Pataudi 2011/- (see above)

Other Members

  • Capt. Israr Mohammad Khan Sahib Bahadur, descended from the founder of Bhopal, born 1890, Sahib Bahadur [cr.1931], ADC to the Nawab of Bhopal in 1937, awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937, married and had issue.
    • Hafiz Mohammad Khan
    • Aziz Mohammad Khan, educated at Aligarh University.
    • Anwar Mohammad Khan, educated at Military Academy, Dehra Dun.
    • Ahrar Mohammad Khan
  • Sardar Muazzam Mohammed Khan, born 18th September 1894, educated in Bhopal, cousin of Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Jaora on mother’s side.