The echoes of royal grandeur fade with time, but their legacy lives on—sometimes in the most unexpected places. While the Mughal Empire once defined an era of magnificence, its descendants now face a stark contrast to their forefathers’ regal existence.
Among them is Sultana Begum, the great-granddaughter of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, whose life in Kolkata is a heartbreaking reflection of history’s forgotten heirs.
Indian media recently uncovered Sultana Begum’s story, revealing the struggles of the last Mughal emperor’s family.
At 60, Sultana Begum does not reside in a grand palace but in a modest two-room home in Howrah, on the outskirts of Kolkata. Struggling with financial hardships, she lives like an ordinary citizen, far removed from the opulence her ancestors once knew.
She can only read about her royal lineage in books and watch it unfold in films, but the reality is harsh—her kitchen is shared with neighbors, and her family endures cramped living conditions.
Reports suggest that Sultana Begum’s grandmother was the daughter-in-law of Bahadur Shah Zafar. She was married to Prince Mirza Bedar Bakht, who passed away in the 1980s, leaving her to navigate a life of hardship. She has six children and relies on a meager pension of 6,000 Indian rupees per month, which barely covers their needs. Her daughters also struggle financially, and she now resides with her unmarried daughter, Madhu Begum, in Kolkata.
According to India.com, despite taking pride in her royal lineage, Sultana Begum has faced immense challenges in finding stable employment. She once ran a tea stall and later tried tailoring women’s clothing, but neither venture could provide sufficient income for her family.
Bahadur Shah Zafar ascended the Mughal throne in 1837 when the empire, though still grand, had already begun its decline. By 1857, he was the symbolic leader of the Indian Rebellion against British rule. The uprising was crushed, and he was exiled to Yangon, Myanmar, where he died in 1862—marking the tragic end of the Mughal dynasty.
Now, over a century and a half later, his great-granddaughter’s plight is a poignant reminder of how history’s grandeur often leaves its heirs behind.