Hyderabad: Princess Saleha Sultan (lovingly known Dimpu), the titular queen of Bhopal, sister of Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and the wife of Nawab Bashir Yar Jung, passed away in Hyderabad on January 19, following prolonged illness. Burial is scheduled to take place later today in Bhopal.
Saleha Sultan is survived by four sons Amer Bin Jung, Saad Bin Jung, Omer Bin Jung and Faiz Bin Jung. Her husband Nawab Bashir Yar Jung was from the Paigah family. He passed away only about two months ago. Nawab Bashir Yar Jung was the son of Nawab Waliud-Dowla Bahadur and grandson of Viqar-ul-Umra, the nobleman who built the famous Falaknuma Palace.
Saleha Sultan was the eldest child of Nawab Ifteqar Ali Khan Pataudi and Begum Sajida Sultan of the Princely State of Bhopal. She was the elder sister of Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the cricket legend.
Despite the region being a matriarchal kingdom, Saleha Sultan was never recognised as the head of the erstwhile Bhopal State. After her mother’s death, the title of Nawab passed on to Tiger Pataudi.
Born in 1940 in Bhopal, she was married to Nawab Bashir Yar Jung in December, 1957 at the Hyderabad House, New Delhi. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.
Her funeral prayer will be offered at Saifia Masjid in Bhopal and will be laid to rest at the same graveyard where her family members and ancestors are buried.