Nawab Jahangir Of Bhopal

Nawab Jahangir Mohammad Khan 1837 - 44

On 29 November 1837, at a special durbar held by the resident and in the presence of Lancelot Wilkinson, Jahangir Mohammad Khan was crowned the Nawab of Bhopal. Amir savored this moment of triumph, and Wilkinson too felt vindicated ( check here for previous details) . On Jahangir’s formal installation to the throne, his first act was to nominate his uncle Asad as Dewan in place of Raja Khuswakt Rai. He next offered Bakshi Bahadur Mohammad Khan the command of Bhopal forces and vast jagirs, provided he forsook loyalty to Qudsia. Bakshi replied to Jahangir thus “I prefer to share half a loaf of dry bread with my benefactors in adversity rather than prosper in the services of a coward”. Bakshi Bahadur along with his two sons, Baqi and Sadar, with swords unsheathed, escorted the palanquin, which took the Begums from Bhopal to their jagir in Islamnagar.

On becoming Nawab, Jehangir the poet-philanderer, immediately changed the atmosphere of the palace. The stern, Spartan, ascetic regime of Qudsia Begum gave way to descendent high-life with courtesans, dancing girls and merriment. Jehangir occupied himself with Tiger hunts, womanizing, and abundant drinking. He built a new suburb, called Jahangirabad, a cantonment for the Bhopal army, and also a palace for himself. Sikandar was a regular visitor to her mother, but willingly returned to her marital bed at night. On 2 May 1838, presumably working on a plot hatched by Amir, Jehangir attempted to kill Jehangir. He did not succeed, and Sikandar Begum was saved by luck. Jehangir had the impression that the mission had been accomplished, and he rode away to his favourite hunting palace at Samardha. By the following morning, the news of the assassination attempt brought a wave of sympathy for the begums, and all pretence at cordiality between the two families was now at an end.

On July 20th 1838, Sikandar Begum gave birth to a bonny daughter that she named Shahjehan. Qudsia Begum meanwhile repeatedly appealed to the British government, asking for a restoration of the throne. The British had also started realizing that they had backed the wrong horse by appointing Jehangir as the ruler, as signs of his misrule were apparent. The Political agent began issuing frequent warnings to Jehangir about his misrule, urging him to mend his ways. By 1844, Jehangir was on his deathbed, probably due to cirrhosis of liver, caused by excessive drinking. He died at the young age of 27, having reigned for seven years. The Britsh then decided on 15 April 1845, that the seven-year-old Shahjehan, would be the next titular ruler and that her uncle Faujdar (who “accidentally” killed Nazar) act as regent. Sikandar Begum would be her guardian and ‘would be consulted on all important issues’.

Infuriated, Amir and Asad made one last attempt to wrest power by force but were easily overpowered by British army led by Major Cunningham. Amir was put to prison where he died in 1854 and Asad was banished to Benaras for life. Qudsia, Sikandar and Shajehan returned to Bhopal on 11 April 1845.