Hyderabad: It does not take much time to change the circumstances. There is a family in this country whose 20 persons ruled Delhi for more than 300 years. The miserable condition of Mughal Dynasty is exposing the Social Justice situation in the country. It is a lesson for those who think that their ancestral wealth and properties will last for many future generations.
One of the descendants of Mughal Dynasty, Ms. Sultana Begum is living on only Rs. 6000 pension per month. She is the wife of Great Grandson of the last Mughal Ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar, Mr. Mirza Mohammed Bedar Bakht. Narrating her story to the staff reporter of Siasat, she told that many representations to shift the body of Bahadur Shah Zafar fell on deaf ears. For the place where Shaheed Bhagat Singh was hanged, India can give many villages to Pakistan, why can’t it take necessary steps to bring back the body of Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Bahadur Shah Zafar is the first ruler who started freedom struggle against the British. The history of Mutiny of 1857 is a witness to this fact. Ms. Sultana Begum further told that the descendants of Bahadur Shah Zafar are the victims of the narrow mindedness of the Indians. She informed that she was getting Rs. 400 as pension for 28 years. In 2010, it was enhanced to Rs. 6000. She further told that she loves the soil of India and she is going to be buried in this soil. She lamented that her ancestors are buried in Rangoon who sacrificed their lives for India.
She quoted that there are many instances in which palaces were given back to Maharajas but it was not done so with the descendants of Mughal Dynasty which clearly indicates the narrow mindedness. She also told that the news item depicting her selling Namkeens on “Thela Bandi” were shown on National TV Channels. Despite this nothing happened. All the politicians remained silent. She questioned the yardstick through which the freedom fighters are classified. She made a representations several times to clarify this the definition of freedom fighter but did not receive any reply.
Ms. Sultana Begum works hard to earn her livelihood in the streets of Kolkata even today since her husband, late Mr. Mirza Bedar Bakht and her father-in-law, late Mr. Mirza Jamsheed Bakht always used to say that they belong to royal family and it is not appropriate for them to beg anything from others.
Her father-in-law, late Mr. Mirza Jamsheed Bakht was the grandson of the last Mughal ruler of India, Mohammed Bahadur Shah Zafar. She further told that some persons have come forward to help her but she wants to get her legitimate rights from Govt. of India. She wants that Govt. of India to do justice to the descendants of Mughal Dynasty. Her ancestors led dignified life in India.
During the course of her meeting with Mr. Zahid Ali Khan, Editor of Siasat Urdu Daily, she gave the details of her visit to Pakistan. She told that after the partition of India, from the land of Pakistan, all the heritage structures of Mughal Dynasty would be destroyed. Pakistan was also included in the territory of Mughal Empire. She also told that if Govt. of India does justice to the descendants of Mughal Dynasty, it will not be a burden on it, since the tourists who visit India spend a lot of money to see the Mughal buildings in India which is a great source of income to Govt. of India.
–Siasat News