Nawab Sayyid Mansur Ali Khan (29 October 1830 – 4 November 1884) was the
Nawab of Bengal from 1838 until his abdication in 1880, whereupon he renounced his titles and position as Nawab. During his reign, he instituted various policies in the
princely state he governed, frequently coming into conflict with the
colonial government over monetary issues. Khan was a frequent visitor to
Britain
Britain most often refers to:
* The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands
* Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
, and it was there that he often pleaded his case in regards to disputes with the colonial government. In 1880, Khan decided to abdicate in favour of his eldest son. He died four years later.
Life
Early years
Nawab Nazim Mansur Ali Khan was born to Nawab
Mubarak Ali Khan II and Rais-un-nisa Begum on 29 October 1830. He was only eight years old when he succeeded his father on 29 October 1838, which happened to be the day of
Eid ul-Fitr. He received the titles of Muntizam-ul-Mulk (Ruler of the Country), Mohsen ud-Daulah (Benefactor of the State), Feradun Jah (Of High Rank) and Nasrut jang (Helper in War). However, he was popularly known as Nawab Nazim Feradun Jah or Janab-e-Ali. Later, he was abdicated and received the lesser title of ''Nawab Bahadur'' and was denied the use of the qualification of His Highness.
Reign as Nawab
After Mansur Ali Khan succeeded his father, Mubarak Ali Khan II on 29 October 1838 at the age of ''eight years'' to become the
Nawab of Bengal, with Kishvar Khan as his Wazir and Khwaja Fazal Mohammed as the chief Qazi.
Mr. W.H. Elliot, appointed agent to the Governor General in December, 1838 relinquished charge of the Nizamat affairs in February, 1839 and the care of the boy Nawab passed into the hands of Colonel Caulfield. During the period from January 1840 to December 1846 there were many changes, three agents being appointed and relieved. The affairs of the Nawab's family were disordered and what disappointed them more was when Mr. Torrens appointed a lot of agents to the Governor General on 17 December 1846.
The Nawab was unable to take part in the management of his affairs as he was very young and was surrounded by intriguers whose only idea was that of self-interest. Mr. Torrens was absent from April 1851 to December 1851, and he died on 15 August 1852. When the Nawab grew up he began to inquire into matters and found that there was confusion in all departments. The main things which were needed was the accounting of money and friendly cooperation between the native officials and the
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
an agents and their officers. The government found it necessary to appropriate the certain so-called ''Nizamat Funds'' and made new arrangements with regards to the Nawab's stipend. But, the Nawab wanted full explanation and resented what, for want of full information, he regarded it as acts of injustice.
The Nawab slowly started taking active interests in matters and found much to complain of, which made certain inquiries during the year 1852. Of 16 lacs assigned to him by the
East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...
his personal allotment was 7,50,000 lacs only. The remainder was used for the other members of the family and any unexpected balance was transferred to the Nizamat Deposit Fund, which later became the subject of a great controversy.
Nawab Nazim Mansur Ali Khan, better known as Feradun Jah founded the Nizamat School and College or the Nawab Bahadur's institution, which is also known was the Nawab's High School and the Nawab's Madrassa. The Nawab's High School or the Nawab Bahadur's Institution was set up in 1825 exclusively for the son and ''akrobas'' of the Nawabs'. He also rebuilt the present building of
Nizamat Imambara
The Nizamat Imambara ( bn, নিজামত ইমামবাড়া) is a Shia Muslim congregation hall (''imambara'') in Murshidabad, India. It was built in 1740 AD by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah and rebuilt in 1847 by Nawab Mansur Ali Khan
...
after the fire of 23 December 1846, just parallel to the north face of the
Hazarduari Palace
Hazarduari Palace, earlier known as the ''Bara Kothi'', is located in the campus of Kila Nizamat in Murshidabad, in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated near the bank of river Ganges. It was built in the nineteenth century by archit ...
at a cost of more than 6 lacs during those times.
![The Nizamat Imambara-Hazarduari](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/The_Nizamat_Imambara-Hazarduari.jpg)
In 1853 it was declared that the Nawab had no treaty rights. This was followed in 1854 by the abolition of all the former privileges of the Nazim. The Nawab's salute of nineteen guards was reduced to thirteen for alleged complicity in the murder of two
menials on 11 October 1854 in the Nawab's shooting camp. The Nawab's attendant Aman Ali Khan, the principal eunuch, was prosecuted for having done the murder. All the eunuchs were acquitted by the Supreme Court and later they were received back to the Nawab's service but the government ordered their peremptory dismissal.
In the same year (i.e. 1853) the four regulations and Acts of 1799, 1805, 1806 and 1822 securing to him certain privileges were repealed and the Nazim's right of control over the ''Nizamate Fund Deposit'' was denied. After the
Revolt of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against Company rule in India, the rule of the East India Company, British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the The Crown, British ...
, in which Nawab Nazim Feradun Jah had rendered material assistance the salute of nineteen guard was restored. In 1860 Nawab Nazim Feradun Jah memorialized the Secretary of State for
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
in council about his numerous grievances. Receiving no redress, the Nawab went to
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
in 1869 against the advice of his ''
dewan
''Dewan'' (also known as ''diwan'', sometimes spelled ''devan'' or ''divan'') designated a powerful government official, minister, or ruler. A ''dewan'' was the head of a state institution of the same name (see Divan). Diwans belonged to the e ...
'', Raja Prasanna Narayan Deb, accompanied by his private secretary and chief counsellor, Mr. H.C. Fox, to prefer his complaint in person to Her Majesty's Government. His grievances were ventilated in Parliament but with little success.
By the time the Nawab was in England, the Nizamate at
Murshidabad
Murshidabad fa, مرشد آباد (, or ) is a historical city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River, a distributary of the Ganges. It forms part of the Murshidabad district.
Durin ...
became involved in debts and people started making several claims against the Nawab Nazim. Thus, as a result attachments were issued against his property. The
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...
there upon moved into an action of freezing the Nawab and his property from suits and attachments and also of discharging portions of the claims. With the further object of exempting him from the jurisdiction of the Civil Courts, the Government of India passed an Act (XVII of 1873) in 1873 and appointed there under a commission for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the enactment. On 13 December 1875 the commissioners one of whom was Beaufort, formerly judge of Murshidabad, submitted their declaration with regard to the Nizamat State Property (that is property held by the Government of India for the purpose of upholding the dignity of the Nawab Nazim of
Bengal
Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...
for the time being). In April 1876 the Nizamate commissioners completed and made their awards with respect to the claims of several creditors.
Abolition of the title
It was in 1880, when the title of "Nawab of Bengal" was abolished. When Feradun Jah was in England he entered into a contract with the Secretary of State. In the contract he agreed to receive a sum of (Indian Rupees) 10 lakhs. It was to paid out of his arrears of pension, in full satisfaction of his personal claims. The personal claims were to one of his own and whatsoever he wanted. The Nawab also expressed a desire to retire from the Nizamate and his personal stipend of 10,000 pounds sterling per annum was granted to him, with an option to reside wherever he pleased.
Abdication
Feradun Jah left Murshidabad in February 1869 and started living in England. He remained there until his return at
Bombay
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second-m ...
in October 1881. However, his journey was not much of pleasure as most of his time was spent in pleading his case against orders of the Government of India. At last after it was not resolved the Nawab renounced his styles and titles of Nawab Nazim of Bengal and
Bihar
Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West ...
and abdicated in favour of his eldest son, at St. Ives, Maidenhead, on 1 November 1880. As he was prone to pleasure and extravaganza he fell deeply into debts and was obliged to dispose much of his family jewels, property and patrimony in return for a life pension of £10,000 per annum, a personal stipend of £83,000 and expenses of £25,000.
Death and legacy
![Nawab of Bengal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Nawab_of_Bengal.jpg)
Feradun Jah came back to Murshidabad where he died of cholera at the Hazarduari Palace on 5 November 1884 and was buried in the family cemetery at
Jafarganj Cemetery
Jafarganj Cemetery is located in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India.
Geography
Location
Jafraganj Cemetery is located at .
The Namak Haram Deorhi, House of Jagat Seth, Nashipur Rajbari , Kathgola Palace and Tomb of Azimunissa Begum are all l ...
. The place where he was buried in coincidence was the only available space left in the line of the tombs of the Nazims, and were subsequently removed for interment at
Karbala in
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
, in pursuance of his will.. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
Nawab Sayyid Hassan Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur
Nawab ( Balochi: نواب; ar, نواب;
bn, নবাব/নওয়াব;
hi, नवाब;
Punjabi : ਨਵਾਬ;
Persian,
Punjabi ,
Sindhi,
Urdu: ), also spelled Nawaab, Navaab, Navab, Nowab, Nabob, Nawaabshah, Nawabshah or Nobab, ...
as
Nawab of Murshidabad
The Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad ( bn, মুর্শিদাবাদের নবাব বাহাদুর), or simply known as the Nawab of Murshidabad, was a hereditary title of Bengal akin to Western peerage. They were direct descenda ...
. His great-grandson,
Iskander Mirza
Sahibzada Iskander Ali Mirza ( bn, ইস্কান্দার আলী মির্জা; ur, ; 13 November 1899 – 13 November 1969), , was a Pakistani Bengali general officer and civil servant who was the first President of Pakista ...
(through his son Bahadur Syed Iskander Ali and his grandson Mohammad Fateh Ali), became the first president of Pakistan in 1956. His 22nd son was Sahibzada Syed Jafar Meerza Bahadur, whose grandson was Syed Safder Meerza (Bacchu Sir), from his son Syed Haider Meerza (Piare Sahib). Syed Safder Meerza went on to become the chief ata'lliq of Nawab Bahadur's Institution, Murshidabad (ata'lliq means mentor).
Marriage
Principal wives
Mansur Ali Khan had in all six principal wives:
# Shams-i-Jehan Begum Sahiba (H.H. Firadaus Mahal; née Mehar-un-nisa Begum Sahiba). Married Nawab Mansur Ali Khan in
Murshidabad
Murshidabad fa, مرشد آباد (, or ) is a historical city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River, a distributary of the Ganges. It forms part of the Murshidabad district.
Durin ...
. She was a ''Gaddinashin Begum'' and died at
Calcutta
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...
on 21 April 1905.
# Malika-uz Zamani Begum Sahiba (Hazziya Begum). She died at
Murshidabad
Murshidabad fa, مرشد آباد (, or ) is a historical city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River, a distributary of the Ganges. It forms part of the Murshidabad district.
Durin ...
in November 1884.
# Mehr Lekha Begum Sahiba (Guiti Afroz Mahal). She died at
Murshidabad
Murshidabad fa, مرشد آباد (, or ) is a historical city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River, a distributary of the Ganges. It forms part of the Murshidabad district.
Durin ...
on 30 May 1855, she has been buried at the
Jafarganj Cemetery
Jafarganj Cemetery is located in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India.
Geography
Location
Jafraganj Cemetery is located at .
The Namak Haram Deorhi, House of Jagat Seth, Nashipur Rajbari , Kathgola Palace and Tomb of Azimunissa Begum are all l ...
. She was previously a
mut‘ah wife as Hasina Khanum, a former Abyssinian slave girl.
# Shah-un nisa Begum Sahiba. She died at
Murshidabad
Murshidabad fa, مرشد آباد (, or ) is a historical city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River, a distributary of the Ganges. It forms part of the Murshidabad district.
Durin ...
on 16 January 1892. She was previously a
mut‘ah wife of as Shah-un-nisa Khanum and had been buried at the
Jafarganj Cemetery
Jafarganj Cemetery is located in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India.
Geography
Location
Jafraganj Cemetery is located at .
The Namak Haram Deorhi, House of Jagat Seth, Nashipur Rajbari , Kathgola Palace and Tomb of Azimunissa Begum are all l ...
.
# Shams-un-nisa Begum Sahiba. She died before 1865. She too was previously a
mut‘ah wife of as Shams-un-nisa Khanum.
# Sarah Begum Sahiba (Before marriage she was an English woman and was named Sarah Vennell). Their marriage took place at the Alexandra Hotel, St. George's Place in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
on 15 May 1870. She was born in 1853 and died on 1 September 1925 at London. She was a daughter of Josiah Godfrey Vennell, of New Barnet, Middlesex. Sarah's brother was George Alexander Vennell who was a barrister of law and represented Mansur Ali Khan in a number of his legal dealings whilst in England.
Mut'ah wives
# Faiz-un-nisa Khanum
# Mubaraq Khadam (previously Bi Moti)
# Badr-un-nisa Khanum
# Zeb-un-nisa Khanum
# Nazam-un-nisa Khanum
# Muhammadi Begum (an English woman known as Julia Lewis before marriage), their marriage took place at London. She was a daughter of Thomas Lewis and died at
Patcham
Patcham () is an area of the city of Brighton & Hove, about north of the city centre. It is bounded by the A27 (Brighton bypass) to the north, Hollingbury to the east and southeast, Withdean to the south and the Brighton Main Line to the west. ...
,
Sussex on 20 December 1948.
# Sambar-un-nisa Begum (previously Bi Sambaran)
See also
*
List of rulers of Bengal
This is a list of rulers of Bengal. For much of its history, Bengal was split up into several independent kingdoms, completely unifying only several times. In ancient times, Bengal consisted of the kingdoms of Pundra, Suhma, Vanga, Samatata ...
*
History of Bengal
The history of Bengal is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It includes modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam's Karimga ...
*
History of Bangladesh
Civilisational history of Bangladesh previously known as East Bengal, dates back over four millennia, to the Chalcolithic. The country's early documented history featured successions of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms and empires, vying for region ...
*
History of India
References
External Links
*
{{Authority control
1830 births
1884 deaths
Indian royalty
Monarchs who abdicated
Nawabs of Bengal
Deaths from cholera