Century City of Bhojpal, Originally it was known as Bhojpal, named after Bhoj and the dam, means Lake, so the name is Bhojpal in Bhopal. The present city of Bhopal was founded by one of Emperor Aurangzeb’s Afghan soldiers Dost Mohammed Khan, who took advantage of the chaos that followed Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 and managed to establish his small kingdom in Bhopal. Although the kingdom was not big, it survived several wars and became a princely state in British India in 1818.
Bhopal reached its height of culture, arts and public works under the enlightened rule of the Begums, a 19th century dynasty of Muslim women. MamolaBai ruled for 50 years from behind the veil after her late husband’s death. The generally accepted rule of the Begums dates from the accession by the 18-year-old Qudsia Begum who seized control after the assassination of her husband. Although she was illiterate, she was brave and refused to follow the purdah tradition. It was she who started to invest in public works, building the Jama Masjid of Bhopal and a beautiful palace, the GoharMahal. Simultaneously she was preparing her daughter Sikander Begum to rule laying the foundations for what would become Bhopal’s golden age.
In 1844, Sikander Begum rose to power. Sikander was trained in the martial arts, fought in many battles, and never observed the purdah. During the 1857 revolt she sided with the British and crushed those who revolted against them. Apart from her valour she was also an enlightened modernist and a reformer. During her time she ensured social and educational reform that made Bhopal a heaven for scholarship and culture and a centre for building, arts and crafts. Her successor, Shah Jahan Begum left an indelible mark in architecture, music, poetry and the arts. In fact she carried a particular passion for architecture, and invested heavily in a series of elaborate public works that beautified the city. Sultan Jahan Begum, daughter of Shah Jahan Begum, succeeded her in 1901 and ruled until 1926 when her son succeeded her marking the end of the Begums’ rule.
The peaceful rule of the Begums led to the rise of a unique mixed culture in Bhopal. The Hindus were given important administrative positions in the state. This led to communal peace and a cosmopolitan culture took roots. Even the Pathans, famous for their robust soldier-like nature, acquired a taste of culture and indulged in poetry, arts and literature.
