Fate Of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s Descendants
I had recently posted a few verses from the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. Read this story by Indscribe that spells a heart wrenching denouement to the dazzling Mughal Empire.
The story of middle-aged Sultana Begum brings tears to one’s eyes. She runs a tea-stall in Howrah to earn a living for her family. Twenty-five years ago her husband Mirza Bedar Bakht, the great grandson of last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, died in penury.
Bedar Bakht sharpened knives to eke out living. After his death, the West Bengal government was approached by several organisations to provide an accommodation for the family. Sultana Begum ultimately got an accommodation but it was near the Red Light District. The goons occupied the house.
She continued to live in the slum. The anti-social elements preyed upon her daughters and she ran hither and thither to get protection for her daughters. Eminent writer Firoz Bakht Ahmad recounts that when he visited the house he stunned at the condition the family was living in. “There was absolutely nothing in the room in the name of household goods”.
The pension ended with her husband’s death long ago. The poignant story of the descendants of the last Mughal who had to see the sight of his own sons’ eyes gouged out and brought to him by the British and was exiled to Burma, proves the failure of the state and more so, the people to acknowledge the contribution of the heroes of our freedom struggle.
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Dara Shikoh with a saint [Src: A. Mittal]
Help the heir of heros who ruled our country.
Its shocking to know the state of the decendants of the Last Mughal Emperor. Also, its shows the apathy of the Indian Government. Red Fort need not be restored to them, still they can be taken care of. At least a decent pension to the family whose ancestors ruled the Great Indian Subcontiment for more than 300 years. One has to realize that after the great mauryas and the guptas, the subcontinent was fragmented between kingdoms, till the great Mughals unified it under its flag. As far as the rules of Arcot, more than 2000 kilometers south of Agra and Delhi paid homage to the Mughal rulers, which tells us about the unity Mughals brought India under.
Lets not be ungrateful, lets show respect, and some compassion.
i don,t think tamoori blad need any one help but the matter of red light distric, center goverment has to look after immedaitely. and provide the proper protection to the familly.about the monetry help if they ask Goverment has to full fill this,there are many sahanai tamoor , bakshanai(baksh)tamoor and sultanai tamoor in india they just hide them self after 1857 revolt, due to the revenge of birtish goverment, in uttranchal province near kedaar nath (holy place )there are bakshanai tamoori people even this modern time its hard to reached that place,just immage wat was there in 1857 but they find there safty, water for wadu and fish and jungle (forest)for animals can be used for food very faar from the hand of birtish.