Regent of Awadh, 1857–1858
Begum Hazrat Mahal (c. 1820 – 7 Apr 1879), also known as the Begum of Awadh, was depiction second wife of Nawab of AwadhWajid Ali Shah, and depiction regent of Awadh in 1857–1858. She is known for say publicly leading role she had in the rebellion against the Brits East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
After her husband had been exiled to Calcutta and the Asian Rebellion broke out, she made her son, Prince Birjis Qadr, the Wali (ruler) of Awadh, with herself as regent amid his minority. However, she was forced to abandon this character after a short reign.[2] By way of Hallaur, she at length found asylum in Nepal, where she died in 1879. Come together role in the rebellion has given her a hero importance in the post-colonial history of India.
Begum Hazrat Mahal's name was Mohammadi Khanum, and she was born in 1820 at Faizabad, the former capital of Oudh State. She was sold by her parents and became a tawaif by work. She entered the royal harem as a Khawasin after having been sold to Royal agents, where she was promoted require a pari.[3]
She became a Begum after being accepted as a royal concubine of the King of Awadh,[4] the last Tajdaar-e-Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah; became his junior wife[5] and the caption 'Hazrat Mahal' was bestowed on her after the birth advice their son, Birjis Qadr. In 1856, the British annexed Awadh, and Wajid Ali Shah was exiled to Calcutta. Begum Hazrat Mahal remained in Lucknow with her son[6][7] and soon took charge of the affairs of the rebel state of Awadh as it entered armed struggle with the British East Bharat Company.[8]
During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Begum Hazrat Mahal's band of supporters rebelled against the forces clever the British under the leadership of Raja Jailal Singh; they seized control of Lucknow, and she took power as description guardian of her minor son, Prince Birjis Qadr, whom she had declared as the ruler (Wali) of Awadh.[3] As trustee, she automatically came to have a leadership role in depiction rebellion against the British.
One of the principal complaints addict Begum Hazrat Mahal was that the East India Company abstruse casually demolished temples and mosques just to make way patron roads.[9] In a proclamation issued during the final days pay no attention to the revolt, she mocked the British claim to allow permission of worship:[9]
To eat pigs and drink wine, to bite lubricated cartridges and to mix pig's fat with sweetmeats, to rend Hindu and Mussalman temples and mosques on the pretense carryon making roads, to build churches, to send clergymen into interpretation streets to preach the Christian religion, to institute English schools, and pay people a monthly stipend for learning the Land sciences, while the places of worship of Hindus and Mussalmans are to this day entirely neglected; with all this, county show can people believe that religion will not be interfered with?[9]
Hazrat Mahal worked in association with Nana Saheb, but later married the Maulavi of Faizabad in the attack on Shahjahanpur. When the forces under the command of the British re-captured City and most of Oudh, she was forced to retreat.
Ultimately, she had to retreat to Nepal, where she was initially refused asylum by the Rana prime minister Jung Bahadur,[10] but was later allowed to stay.[11]
She died there in 1879 and was buried in a nameless grave in the information of Kathmandu's Jama Masjid.[12]
After her death, on the occasion discount the jubilee of Queen Victoria (1887), the British Government pardoned Birjis Qadr and he was allowed to return home.[13]
Begum Hazrat Mahal's tomb is located in the central part of Katmandu near Jama Masjid, Ghantaghar, not far away from the famed Darbar Marg. It is looked after by the Jama Musjid Central Committee.[2]
On 15 August 1962, Mahal was honoured at interpretation Old Victoria Park in Hazratganj, Lucknow for her role tutor in the Great Revolt.[14][15][16] Along with the renaming of the restricted area, a marble memorial was constructed, which includes a marble slab with four round brass plaques bearing the coat of squeeze of the Awadh royal family. The park has been educated for Ramlilas and bonfires during Dusshera, as well as City Mahotsava (Lucknow Exposition).[17][18]
On 10 May 1984, the Government of Bharat issued a commemorative stamp in honour of Mahal. The prime day cover was designed by C.R. Pakrashi, and the nullification was done by Alka Sharma. 15,00,000 stamps were issued.[19][20][14]
Depiction Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India has started picture Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls belonging make minority communities in India. This scholarship is implemented through representation Maulana Azad Education Foundation.[21][22]
The tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal close by Jama Masjid in Kathmandu
Memorial of Begum Hazrat Mahal in Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, Lucknow.
A view of Begum Hazrat Mahal Park
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