Qudsia’s Regency

Qudsia agreed to betroth her daughter Sikandar to Amir’s (Nazar Mohammad Khan’s elder brother) elder son, Munir, so that on marriage he would take over as the Nawab of Bhopal. As Sikandar was only 15 months old, Qudsia could count on at least 16 years of regency before Sikandar reached marriageable age. Even the British political agent on advice of Colonel Maddocks – the resident of Indore – agreed to declare Munir as the Nawab. Qudsia decided to take her future son-in-law Munir under her wing. Learned men taught Munir the basics of administration. However, soon egged on by Amir and his brother-in-law Asad, Munir gathered some Rohilla fighters and planned to overthrow Qudsia. Shahzad Masih counter attacked quickly and after a four-day standoff, a whining and contrite Munir fell at Qudsia’s feet, begging for forgiveness. Munir was forgiven, and immediately the British started pressurizing Qudsia for an early marriage. Qudsia, in 1827, declared that Munir was impotent!

This charge was eventually proved false, after Munir produced many children from another marriage. Amir then gained his younger son Jehangir’s betrothal to Sikandar. Twelve years after Qudsia became regent, Lancelot Wilkinson was made the Political agent of Bhopal. He sided with Amir, and started pressurizing Qudsia for an early marriage of Jehangir and Sikandar, which was celebrated with great pomp and show on 18 April 1835. However, Qudsia steadfastly refused to relinquish power, which eventually led to an armed conflict between Jehangir’s forces and the Royal forces of Bhopal. The Royal forces of Bhopal were victorious in a battle fought near Ashta, led by Raja Khushwakt Rai (Shazad Masih – the Bourbon died on 1 July 1829 – rumored to be poisoned by Afgan soldiers). However Lancelot Wilkinson arrived at Bhopal with a strong British contingent. Qudsia was forced to hand over power to Jahangir and she retired to Islamnagar. Qudsia was given a jagir of 816 villages with an income of 5 lakh of rupees, and honored with an 11-gun salute for life.