Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/31

Rh by his nephew Munir Mahamad who was to marry Sikandar Begum. In 1827 A.D. however, Munir Mahamad resigned his claim to the State and to the hand of Sikandar in favour of his brother Jahangir; himself accepting a jahagir guaranteed by the British Government. Peace was destroyed by the ambition of Khudisa Begum. She tried to postpone the marriage of her daughter with Jahangir Mahamad with a view to retain power in her own hands. The marriage, however, had to be celebrated in April 1835 A.D. Dissensions continued; Khudisa Begum and Sikandar Begum each strove after power, and at times, both coalesced to. keep out the Nawab. In 1836 A.D. he too, devised a plot to seize the Begum, but it proved abortive having come to light before it had been executed. In 1837 A.D. the Nawab was restored to power, and Khudisa Begum retired on. a life-pension of five lacs of Rupees (Bhopal currency). Nawab Jahangir died in 1844 A.D. and was succeeded by his daughter Shah Jahan Begum with Sikandar Begum as Regent, who virtually continued to rule the State till her death in 1868 A.D. Sikandar Begum was a sagacious and far-seeing lady. During the Mutiny of 1857 A.D. she rendered great help to the British Government, which was recognized by the re-transference of the district of Berasia in 1860 A.D. to the Bhopal State, and by the award of G. C. S. I. as a mark of personal distinction to the Begum in 1861 A.D. Next year a sanad was granted by the Paramount Power recognizing the succession to the Bhopal musnad in accordance with Mahomedan law. After the death of Sikandar Begum, her daughter Shah Jahan Begum, was duly installed as the Ruling Chief, and her daughter Sultanah Jahan was recognized as her heir and succeessor. She died in 1901 A.D. and was succeeded by Sultanah Jahan, the present ruler, who, with the help of her eldest son, Nawab Mahamad Nasrulla Khan, personally supervises the administration of the State with tact and moderation in all its branches. Like her mother the present Begum Saheb is thoroughly practical and business-like. Her actions are marked with an earnestness to improve the State and to make her subjects happy and prosperous.

Bhopal has a special, interest to the archaeologist on account of the Sanchi stupa and its splendid monolithic railing erected in the third century B. C.

The approximate extent of the State is 7,000, square; miles with a total population of 6,65,900 souls, and an average normal revenue of 25 lacs of Rupees. The total strength of the State army is 1,744 men and a regiment of Imperial service cavalry.

The present ruler, as said above, is Her Highness Nawab Sultanah Jahan Begum G. C. S. I., G. C. I. E., who is entitled to a salute of 21 guns in Bhopal territory and 19 guns outside Bhopal limits.