This remarkable lady of Bhopal has contributed to the society enormously despite being a woman ruler of the State of Bhopal. She has proven in her life that veil was a personal choice for her and that never interfered with her duty as a ruler of the state, nor as a chancellor of AMU or as a writer of many books.
She, a devout Muslim became ruler of Bhopal at the age of forty three, quite mature age to become a ruler at that time. She reorganised economy and administration of her state, which were left in despicable situation by her predecessor administration.
Few important and interesting points from her life and reign:
1. She established free and compulsory primary education in 1918, especially she worked for female literacy.
2. She opened many technical institutes and teachers training schools in Bhopal.
3. From 1920 until her death, she was the founding Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. Twice she was elected Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. She was the first and the only female chancellor the institution has seen so far. She had financially supported the institution.
4. Nawab Begum reformed taxation, the army, police, the judiciary and the jails, expanded agriculture, and constructed extensive irrigation and public works in the state.
5. She pioneered widespread inoculation and vaccination programs and improved the water supply and standards of hygiene and sanitation.
6. She was a prolific writer, she authored several books on education, health and other topics, including Hidayat uz-Zaujan, Sabil ul-Jinan, Tandurusti (Health), Bachchon-ki-Parwarish, Hidayat Timardari, Maishat-o-Moashirat.
7. She wrote travelogue of Hajj, which she performed in the year 1903-04. This narrative, entitled The Story of a Pilgrimage to Hijaz, recounts the events of that journey.
The photograph below shows the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) and the Sultan Jahan, Nawab Begum of Bhopal (1858-1930) (r.1901-26) are seated on thrones in the centre, the begum is in purdah. On the left sitting is her eldest son.
