The Begums of Bhopal

At a time when the revival of orthodox Islam and the status and role of Muslim women in modern society is capturing the attention of the world, the story of the Begums of Bhopal, and how during the last 200 years they overcame the prejudices, religious dogma and chauvinism of the period to play such a decisive and positive role in an otherwise male-dominated society, provides thought-provoking reading for the historian and sociologist.

Bhopal State was situated in the Malwa region of central India, and seemed destined to be dominated by women from its very inception. It was founded in 1709 by an Afghan adventurer, Dost Mohammed Khan, who first acquired the lease of a village called Bairasia which was to serve as a base. He then returned to his native Afghanistan to fetch his kinsmen and a trustworthy band of supporters to assist him.