Abida Sultan
Encyclopedia
Princess
Suraya Jah, Nawab Gowhar-i-Taj, Abida Sultan Begum Sahiba (شہزادی عابدہ سلطان) (born 28 August 1913, died 11 May 2002) was the eldest daughter of Hamidullah Khan
, the last nawab of the Bhopal state
. In 1928, she was recognized as the heiress apparent to the Bhopal throne. However, she gave up her right to the throne and migrated to the newly formed Pakistan
in 1950.
In Pakistan, she joined the foreign service. Therefore, the Government of India excluded her from the succession and her younger sister Sajida
succeeded her instead upon her father's death in 1960, although Abida Sultan contested the succession in court.
Abida Sultan had arrived in the newly created Pakistan at the age of 37, with a young son. She was to spend the greater part of her life in Pakistan. She died in Karachi
in 2002. Her son, Shaharyar Khan, was to become the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and then the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board
.
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Suraya Jah, Nawab Gowhar-i-Taj, Abida Sultan Begum Sahiba (شہزادی عابدہ سلطان) (born 28 August 1913, died 11 May 2002) was the eldest daughter of Hamidullah Khan
Hamidullah Khan
Hajji Nawab Hafiz Muhammad Hamidullah Khan was the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal, which merged with the state of Madhya Pradesh in 1956. He ruled from 1926 when his mother, Begum Kaikhusrau Jahan Begum, abdicated in his favor, until 1949 and held the honorific title until his death in 1960...
, the last nawab of the Bhopal state
Bhopal (state)
Bhopal State was an independent state of 18th century India, a princely salute state in a subsidiary alliance with British India from 1818 to 1947, and an independent country from 1947 to 1949...
. In 1928, she was recognized as the heiress apparent to the Bhopal throne. However, she gave up her right to the throne and migrated to the newly formed Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1950.
In Pakistan, she joined the foreign service. Therefore, the Government of India excluded her from the succession and her younger sister Sajida
Sajida Sultan, Begum of Bhopal
Sajida Sultan was a Begum of Bhopal in her own right, and consort to a Nawab of Pataudi.Sajida was the second daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan, last ruling Nawab of Bhopal. She was the grand daughter of Begum Sultan Jahan, the fourth ruling queen of Bhopal...
succeeded her instead upon her father's death in 1960, although Abida Sultan contested the succession in court.
Abida Sultan had arrived in the newly created Pakistan at the age of 37, with a young son. She was to spend the greater part of her life in Pakistan. She died in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
in 2002. Her son, Shaharyar Khan, was to become the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and then the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board
Pakistan Cricket Board
The Pakistan Cricket Board is a sporting organization that is responsible for governing all professional cricket including Test cricket and One Day International matches played in Pakistan...
.