Nawab Begum Sultan Jahan of Bhopal: A Visionary Reformer and Educationist

By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam 28 May 2025 Bhopal’s Nawab Begum Sultan Jahan (1858–1930) was a visionary ruler who pioneered girls’ education, healthcare reforms, and women’s empowerment. She modernised governance, established institutions like AMU, and received global honours, leaving a legacy as a trailblazer in princely India’s socio-political progress. Main Points: 1. Pioneered girls’ education via schools (Sultania, Lady Minto Nursing School), compulsory primary education (1918), and support for AMU. 2. Championed women’s empowerment through vocational training, All India Muslim Women’s Conference (1914), and grants for women’s colleges. 3. Launched mass vaccination drives and health literature (Tandrusti). 4. Modernised Bhopal’s governance (judiciary, agriculture, municipal elections). 5. Honoured with titles like GCSI, GCIE, and first Indian woman university chancellor. ---- Courtesy: indianexpress.com ----- Lord Edwin Montague once remarked that Sultan Jahan Begum "was very keen on education, and would not speak ill of anything else," a testament to her unwavering dedication to progressive ideals. Early Life and Ascension Born on 9 July 1858 in Bhopal to Baqi Muhammad Khan Bahadur and Sultan Shah Jahan Begum, Sultan Jahan inherited a legacy of reformism from her grandmother, Sikandar Jahan Begum, and mother. Declared heir after her mother’s demise, she ascended the throne in 1901 at age 43. Married to Ahmed Ali Khan Bahadur on 1 February 1874, the couple had three sons and two daughters. Championing Education and Women’s Empowerment A lifelong advocate of education, Sultan Jahan Begum propelled Bhopal into modernity through visionary reforms. As a member of the Bharat Stree Mahamandal (Great Circle of Indian Women), she championed girls’ education and healthcare. She founded the Sultania School, where she introduced a revamped curriculum that included English, Urdu, arithmetic, home science, and crafts. She also established institutions like Sulemania and Ubeidiya, along with model schools, to expand access to quality education. Her collaboration with Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was pivotal in founding Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where she served as the lifelong Chancellor from 1920–1930. The Sultan Jahan Begum Manzil at AMU stands as a testament to her legacy. She supported Sheikh Abdullah’s girls’ school through monthly grants, which later evolved into AMU’s Women’s College. Recognising the need for specialised training, she launched the Lady Minto Nursing School to professionalise healthcare education and the Girls Guide School to encourage creativity among young women. In 1918, she institutionalised free and compulsory primary education, a landmark policy for its time. Earlier, in 1905, she established an art school to empower women, widows, and destitute women with vocational skills. Her leadership extended to national platforms; she served as president of the All India Muslim Women’s Conference in 1914 and founded the All India Muslim Women’s Organisation in 1918, cementing her role as a pioneer of women’s rights. Health and Social Reforms Sultan Jahan Begum spearheaded public health initiatives, including mass vaccination campaigns she personally led. Her literary contributions, such as ‘Baacho Ki Parvarish’ (on child-rearing), ‘Tandrusti’ (on health), and ‘Hijaz - Story of a Pilgrimage’ (on spirituality), disseminated practical knowledge to the public. Administrative and Infrastructure Development Beyond education and health, her 25-year reign (1901–1926) saw transformative governance. She modernised the army, police, judiciary, and prison systems while prioritising agricultural development through extensive irrigation projects. Public works flourished under her rule, and in 1922, she established executive and legislative councils while introducing open elections for municipalities. Accolades and Legacy Honoured globally for her foresight, Sultan Jahan Begum received titles such as the Order of the Indian Empire (1904), Order of the Star of India (1910), and Order of the British Empire (1917). She was the first woman chancellor of an Indian university and a recipient of the Ottoman Empire’s Nishan-i-Majidi. In 1926, she abdicated in favour of her youngest son, Nawab Hamidullah Khan. Four years later, on 12 May 1930, she passed away at age 71. Historians believe that had her reign continued, Bhopal might have rivalled European cities in modernity. Today, her legacy endures as a trailblazer who redefined equality, education, and empowerment in princely India. ------ Afroz Khan is a teacher by profession. She primarily writes about women and Islam. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education. 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