# Sikandar Begum

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Nawab of Bhopal from 1860 to 1868

Since [Begum](/source/Begum) is an honorific, the article's subject is known by her first name.

Sikandar Begum Nawab of Bhopal Reign 30 September 1860 – 30 October 1868 Predecessor Shah Jahan Begum (first reign) Successor Shah Jahan Begum (second reign) Regent of Bhopal Reign 1844–1860 Regent Shah Jahan Begum Born Sikandar Begum (1817-09-10)10 September 1817 Gauhar Mahal, Bhopal State, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India) Died 30 October 1868(1868-10-30) (aged 51) Moti Mahal, Bhopal State, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India) Burial Farhat Afza Bagh, Bhopal Spouse Jahangir Mohammad Khan Issue Shah Jahan Begum Father Nasir Mohammad Khan Mother Qudsia Begum, Begum of Bhopal Religion Islam

**Sikander Begum** [GCSI](/source/Order_of_the_Star_of_India) (10 September 1817 – 30 October 1868) was the [Nawab of Bhopal](/source/Nawabs_of_Bhopal) from 1860 until her death in 1868. Although she was initially appointed regent of her nine-year old daughter [Shah Jahan Begum](/source/Shah_Jahan_Begum_of_Bhopal) in 1844, she was recognized as nawab in 1860. During the 1857 [Sepoy Mutiny](/source/Sepoy_Mutiny), Sikandar's pro-British stance made her a [Knight Grand Commander](/source/Order_of_the_Star_of_India). In 1863, she was the first Indian ruler to perform [Hajj](/source/Hajj). Sikandar enacted many reforms in the state, including the creation of a mint, a [secretariat](/source/Secretariat_(administrative_office)), a [parliament](/source/Parliament) and a modern judiciary.

## Early life

Sikandar was born at Gauhar Mahal in [Bhopal State](/source/Bhopal_State), [British India](/source/British_India), on 10 September 1817. Her parents, Nasir Muhammad Khan and [Qudsia Begum, Begum of Bhopal](/source/Qudsia_Begum%2C_Begum_of_Bhopal), were former nawabs of the state.

## Reign

Silver Rupee coin from the princely state of Bhopal, struck in the name of Nawab Sikander Begum.

On 3 January 1847, Sikandar Begum's nine-year old daughter [Shah Jahan Begum](/source/Shah_Jahan_Begum_of_Bhopal) ascended the throne of Bhopal. [Joseph Davey Cunningham](/source/Joseph_Davey_Cunningham), [political agent](/source/Indian_Political_Department) of the [Governor-General of India](/source/Governor-General_of_India), announced on 27 July of that year that Sikandar was appointed [regent](/source/Regent). The governor-general bestowed the state's executive powers on her.

During the 1857 [Sepoy Mutiny](/source/Indian_Rebellion_of_1857), Sikandar sided with the British. To prevent rebellion in Bhopal, she banned the publication and circulation of anti-British pamphlets, strengthened her intelligence network, and bribed anti-British soldiers to switch sides. In August, however, a group of [sepoys](/source/Sepoy) attacked British [garrisons](/source/Garrison) in [Sehore](/source/Sehore) and [Berasia](/source/Berasia); anger with her increased in the state due to her pro-British stance. The same group of sepoys, encouraged by Sikandar's mother, surrounded her palace in December. Sikandar sent her son-in-law, Umrao Daulah, to negotiate with them. The soldiers ended their siege when she announced that their salaries would be increased. In 1861, Sikandar received the [Knight Grand Commander](/source/Order_of_the_Star_of_India) award for her pro-British stance during the mutiny.[1] The British recognized Sikandar as Nawab of Bhopal on 30 September 1860, and her [military salute](/source/Salute#Heavy_arms:_gun_salutes) was increased to 19 guns the following year.

### Hajj

In 1863, Sikandar was the first Indian monarch to perform [Hajj](/source/Hajj). She was accompanied by about 1,000 people, mostly women. Sikandar wrote a memoir of her trip in [Urdu](/source/Urdu), and an English translation was published in 1870. In the memoir, she wrote that the cities of [Mecca](/source/Mecca) and [Jeddah](/source/Jeddah) were "unclean" and the [Arabs](/source/Arabs) and the [Turks](/source/Turkish_people) were "uncivilised" and "possessed no religious knowledge." Also included in the memoir is an anecdote about her confrontation with Turkish customs officials who wanted to levy [duties](/source/Duty_(economics)) on everything she brought.[2]

### Reforms

Sikandar divided the state into three districts and 21 sub-districts. A revenue officer was appointed for each district and an administrator for each sub-district. She repaid the state's ₹3 million (US$31,000) debt. Sikandar also established a customs office, a [secretariat](/source/Secretariat_(administrative_office)), an intelligence network, a mint, a postal service which connected the state with the rest of India, and a modern judiciary with a [court of appeal](/source/Appellate_court).

She founded the Victoria School for girls and at least one Urdu and Hindi middle school in each district of the state.[1] Sikandar introduced a Majlis-e-Shoora ([parliament](/source/Parliament)) in 1847. Consisting of nobles and intellectuals, its purpose was to pass and recommend laws and to suggest reforms. In 1862, she replaced [Persian](/source/Persian_language) with Urdu as the court language.

### Architecture

Sikandar constructed a [Moti Masjid](/source/Moti_Masjid%2C_Bhopal) ([mosque](/source/Mosque)) made of red [sandstone](/source/Sandstone),[3] and built the Moti Mahal and Shaukat Mahal palaces. The latter was a blend of [European](/source/European_architecture) and [Indo-Islamic architecture](/source/Indo-Islamic_architecture), with [Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture) features.[4]

## Personal life

On 18 April 1835, Sikandar married Nawab Jahangir Mohammad Khan.[4] They had one daughter, [Shah Jahan Begum](/source/Shah_Jahan_Begum_of_Bhopal). Like her mother, Qudsia Begum, Sikandar was a devout Muslim; however, she did not wear the [niqab](/source/Niqab) (face veil) or practise [purdah](/source/Purdah) (female seclusion). She hunted tigers, played [polo](/source/Polo) and was a [swordsman](/source/Swordsman), [archer](/source/Archer), and [lancer](/source/Lancer). Sikandar commanded the army, and personally inspected courts, offices, the mint, and the treasury.

Sikandar Begum died of [kidney failure](/source/Kidney_failure) on 30 October 1868. She was buried at Farhat Afza Bagh, and was succeeded by her daughter as Nawab of Bhopal.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TT_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TT_1-1) ["Begums Of Bhopal - Saris and a scabbard"](https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/begums-of-bhopal-saris-and-a-scabbard/cid/523398). [The Telegraph](/source/The_Telegraph_(Calcutta)). 16 May 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Kashif-ul-Huda (14 March 2010). ["Nawab Sikandar Begum's Hajj memoir"](http://twocircles.net/2010mar13/nawab_sikandar_begums_hajj_memoir.html). [Two Circles](/source/Two_Circles). Retrieved 5 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Podder, Tanushree (11 November 2010). ["Fascinating Bhopal: City of Begums"](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/travel/fascinating-bhopal-city-of-begums/articleshow/6905394.cms?from=mdr). [The Economic Times](/source/The_Economic_Times). Retrieved 5 April 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RB_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RB_4-1) ["Nawab Sikander Begum"](https://governor.mp.gov.in/sikandar.aspx?lang=hi). Governor of Madhya Pradash. Retrieved 5 April 2019.

## External links

- [A pilgrimage to Mecca (London : W. H. Allen, 1870)](https://digital.soas.ac.uk/AA00001525/) (publication) at SOAS Digital Collections

- [تاریخ-ا سفر-ا مکّہ (Tarikh-i safar-i Makka)](https://digital.soas.ac.uk/AA00001526/) (manuscript. 1863 [inscribed 1864]) at SOAS Digital Collections

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sikandar Begum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikandar_Begum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikandar_Begum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.