Bhopal’s titular queen Saleha Sultan passes away in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Princess Saleha Sultan, the titular queen of Bhopal, passed away due to a long term illness in Hyderabad. Her funeral is set to take place on Monday in Bhopal. Sultan, is survived by her four sons Amer Bin Jung, Saad Bin Jung, Omer Bin Jung and Faiz Bin Jung.

Her husband Nawab Bashir Yar Jung from the Paigah family, whose father constructed the Falaknuma Palace, passed away in 2019.

“As the eldest child of Nawab Ifteqar Ali Khan Pataudi and Begum Sajida Sultan of the Princely State of Bhopal, she was the titular Begum of Bhopal. She was elder to her brother Nawab Mansoor (Tiger) Ali Khan Pataudi, the cricket legend,” said Mohammed Safiullah, a historian.

However, she was never recognised as the head of the erstwhile Bhopal State – despite the region being a matriarchal kingdom. After her mother’s death, the title of Nawab passed on to Tiger Pataudi. It is to be noted that Sultan and her sons have been embroiled in a court case with Tiger’s son and Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan to procure a share of the ancestral property in Bhopal.

The property in contention is over some 6,000 acres and worth thousands of crores of rupees, including the Bhopal Jama Masjid that is estimated to be worth Rs 1,000 crore. “Her mortal remains are being taken to Bhopal where the funeral takes place at the Saifia Masjid where her family members and ancestors are buried,” Safiullah said.

Another historian Vedakumar Manikonda while expressing his condolence said, “I convey my deepest condolences to thr bereaved family. For some time in early nineties we were neighbors for some time. We had chance of meeting now and then including their children.”