Howrah, West Bengal: The Mughal dynasty, once a symbol of grandeur and power in India, has now been reduced to historical references, with its descendants living in obscurity. Sultana Begum, reportedly the great-granddaughter-in-law of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, lives far from the luxury her ancestors once enjoyed.
At 60, Sultana resides in a small, cramped two-room hut in Howrah, on the outskirts of Kolkata, struggling to make ends meet. She survives on a modest government pension of ₹6,000 per month, barely enough to support herself and her family.
Her late husband, Prince Mirza Bedar Bukht, was a direct descendant of Bahadur Shah Zafar. After his death in the 1980s, Sultana’s life took a turn for the worse, forcing her into financial struggles. She attempted to run a tea stall and tailor women’s clothing to sustain her family, but these efforts were insufficient.
Sultana lives with her unmarried daughter, Madhu Begum, while her other children also face financial difficulties. Despite her royal lineage, she has found it challenging to secure stable employment.
Bahadur Shah Zafar, who ascended the throne in 1837, was the last emperor of the declining Mughal Empire. He became the symbolic leader of the 1857 revolt against British rule, but after its failure, he was exiled to Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar), where he died in 1862.
Sultana Begum’s life is a stark reminder of how time can change fortunes. From the palaces of Delhi to a modest hut in Bengal, her story is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity.
