India’s history is filled with stories of powerful dynasties that ruled vast territories and lived in immense wealth. But for many descendants of these royal families, life today is far from luxurious. 

One such story is that of Sultana Begum, the great-granddaughter-in-law of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. Despite her royal lineage, Sultana now lives in difficult conditions, far from the riches her ancestors once enjoyed.

Who is Sultana Begum?

Sultana Begum, who is 60 now, occupies a tiny two-room house in Howrah, Kolkata — one of the city's poorest neighborhoods. While being part of the noble Mughal lineage, her life now is a sharp contrast to the royal palaces that her forebears occupied. She lives with her unmarried daughter, Madhu Begum, and uses a public street tap for domestic use. Their tiny kitchen is shared with the neighbors.

“I didn’t think buying a house was possible on my banking wage,” Layla said. “The cost of living in New Zealand is really high, so even when you’re being paid what is supposed to be a livable wage, it doesn’t feel that way anymore.”

How did life become so hard for Sultana?

Sultana's life took a dramatic turn following the death of her husband, Prince Mirza Bedar Bukht, in the 1980s. With six children to feed, she found it difficult to manage on a monthly pension of a mere ₹6,000 — hardly enough to meet her family's basic expenses.

Her financial issues continued to deteriorate over time. No aid has been given despite writing numerous petitions to the Indian government for assistance. Sultana's daughters, who are also struggling financially, have not been in a position to assist her.

Assistance from Human Rights Organizations

While government aid has been absent, rights organizations have come to the assistance of Sultana. Activists have brought forth her condition and the difference between her royal heritage and present-day poverty. Though born of a royal family, Sultana attempted to earn her livelihood by operating a tea stall and producing ladies' apparel, but neither venture earned her enough money.

Who was Bahadur Shah Zafar?

Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal emperor of India, who took the throne in 1837. The power of the Mughal Empire had already waned by then, and his power was restricted to the Red Fort in Delhi. Though his political power was weakened, Zafar was a respected poet, musician, and calligrapher.

In 1857, during the Indian Rebellion against British domination, Zafar was made a symbolic leader. When the British defeated the rebellion, he was arrested, put on trial for treason, and banished to Rangoon (present-day Yangon, Myanmar). He passed away there in 1862, and with his death, the Mughal Empire ended.

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