April 11, 2004

Princess Abida Sultaan was one of the most remarkable women of her generation, a unique full blooded personality, who belonged to an extraordinary princely state, where women had ruled in their own right for four generations. She was taught Persian, Arabic, Urdu and English, as well as carpentry and pewter work. She also had profound knowledge of classical music and could play the harmonium. She loved to ride and shoot, play hockey, cricket; she would accept any hair-raising challenge, including stunt driving. Over and above that, she was the heir apparent of Bhopal until 1947, worked very closely with her father Nawab Hamidullah Khan and was entrusted with administrative and political decisions, during his absence.

In 1950, Princess Abida Sultaan migrated to Pakistan, inspired by the Quaid-i-Azam’s vision and the ideals of freedom and justice for all Muslims, that Pakistan stood for. Without a second thought, she left behind all that others strive and die for — palaces, jewels and titles. She settled in a small house in Malir, to forge a new life for herself and above all, for her only son, Shahryar M. Khan, who went on to become a distinguished Pakistani diplomat. She has chronicled her extraordinary life in Memoirs of a Rebel Princess, which she completed during her last days, aged 89, with the help of a daily diary she had kept since the 1930’s.

The book includes a foreword by Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, a scholarly introduction by the Canadian academic Siobhan Lambert Hurley as well as a preface by the author encapsulating the history of Bhopal and matriarchal traditions into which she was born. Her grandmother, Sultan Jahan Begum, the fourth woman to rule Bhopal, brought her up. She ensured that Princess Abida Sultaan completed the Quran at the age of six and two years later, had memorized the entire lafazi tarjuma. Princess Abida Sultaan was to develop such a profound knowledge of the Quran and hadith, that she would debate and discuss points of law or interpretations, with Islamic scholars and jurists. She could quote chapter and verse to uphold the equality of women in Islam.

Princess Abida Sultaan learnt to ride almost before she could walk, as did her two sisters, but she was born a rebel. Even as a little girl, she would gallop off, to the consternation of her sedate, “Humpty Dumpty” riding instructor. Her account is filled with many a lively description of her early childhood and in particular about her indomitable, purdah observing grandmother, Sultan Jahan Begum, though Princess Abida Sultaan chafed under her strict discipline. Their relationship was often turbulent, but later she came to admire her grandmother as a humane, just and principled ruler.

Princess Abida Sultaan’s father, Prince Hamidullah Khan, had received a more modern egalitarian education than other Bhopal princes and had graduated from Aligarh University. In 1924 his two older brothers died. Sultan Jahan Begum, travelled to England, accompanied by him and his family, to ensure his succession. She won her case, abdicated in his favour and he named his eldest, the 12-year-old Princess Abida Sultaan, heir apparent. Unfortunately her grandmother also put her in purdah. Princess Abida Sultaan was so “miserable and upset”, that she took “no notice of anything” during the ensuing celebrations and sulked when displayed to the Bhopal public in burqa topped with a tiara.

Soon afterwards she was married to a family friend, she knew, the Nawab of Kurwai, but in a manner so arbitrary that she was told to dress for “the nikah”, without quite knowing whose nikah it was. But she did find an ally in her father. With his support she resumed riding, hockey and other sports — burqa and purdah were soon forgotten. In a characteristic and symbolic assertion of individuality and independence, Princess Abida Sultaan chopped off her cumbersome, waist length hair and wore it short thereafter.

Princess Abida Sultaan’s lively chapter “The golden decade”, about the 1930’s, recreates those heady years. She was a true daredevil. She zoomed through Bhopal on a motorbike, ran off incognito to learn flying while her father combed India for her whereabouts, she risked life and limb at shikar. All this was far more interesting to her than princely ceremonials, which receive but passing mention. With remarkable frankness, she describes the breakdown of her marriage and her fight for the custody of Shahryar, which she settled with a dramatic action, that only she would have risked.

At the same time, she took her duties as her father’s chief secretary very seriously. She took correspondence courses from England in accountancy, mathematics, office management and secretarial work, healed tensions between family factions and on behalf of her sisters, to enable them to marry of their choice. Her father was elected Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes twice and was drawn increasingly into national politics which took him to Delhi or Simla frequently (as did polo tournaments). She remained in Bhopal to act as president of the Cabinet.

As the independence movement gathered momentum and the demise of the princely states loomed, Princess Abida Sultaan began “to gaze at the broader political horizons of India and beyond” — and chose Pakistan. In 1954, she was included in Pakistan’s delegation to the UN, where she was an enormous success. She accompanied Prime Minister Shaheed Suhrawardy’s delegation to China and floored the Defence Minister Marshal Ho Lung and his colleagues at target practice. In 1957, she was appointed Pakistan’s ambassador to Brazil.

Princess Abida Sultaan did not confuse politics with personal relationships and remained “a committed democrat” throughout. She worked closely with Miss Jinnah and the combined opposition parties, during the 1964 election, but over the years, she became disillusioned with politics and retired. Her last few chapters revolve around Shahryar and his family and the many countries she visited during his various postings. The book culminates with a moving epilogue by Shahryar, who sat by her side, while she put the last pages of her manuscript together.

Those who had the privilege of knowing her might quibble that her memoirs do not quite capture the richness and flavour of her witty and unconventional turn of speech. Nevertheless this book remains a testament to a truly remarkable life and provides a wonderful insight into a rare and extraordinary human being, a free spirit unbowed, until the end of her days.

Memoirs of a Rebel Princess
By Abida Sultaan
Oxford University Press, Plot # 38, Sector 15, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi
Tel: 111-693-673
Email: ouppak@theoffice.net
Website: www.oup.com.pk
ISBN 0-19-579958-5
315pp. Rs595

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