Begum Sultan Jahan

Why in news?

• Recently, the death anniversary of Begum Sultan Jahan was observed.

About the Begum:

• She was a Philanthropist, Prolific writer, Feminist, Symbol of Women Empowerment.
• Born in 1858, Begum Sultan Jahan ascended the throne in 1901. And was the fourth female ruler of Bhopal and ruled till 1926.

Roles and Contributions

• Municipality system: She set up the municipality system and introduced municipal elections for the first time in her state.
• Nawab Begum reformed taxation, the army, police, the judiciary and the jails, expanded agriculture, and constructed extensive irrigation and public works in the state.
• Also, she established an Executive and Legislative State Council in 1922 .
• She took steps for improving public health, sanitation, and water supply in the Bhopal and introduced vaccination programs.
• She organised an exhibition called ‘Numaish-e-Masnuaat-Hind’ in Bhopal to encourage women and promote handicrafts where she displayed her creations.
• She established the Ladies Club in Bhopal intending to involve more women in her mission.
• From 1920 until her death, she was the founding Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. As of 2020, she is the only women to have served as Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.

Prelims Question:

Begum Sultan Jahan, recently in news, was the ruler of princely state of:
(a)Bhopal
(b)Awadh
(c)Ajmer
(d)Kolhapur

Answer to Prelims question