[Volume.1,
Issue.1]
Dr. Tarun Pratap Yadav
Asstt. Professor,ALS
Centre-II
Ph.
No. 9911702732, 8826380960
Abstract
The period between 1818-1836 A.D was marked
as the golden age of Meerut
Begum tried to help the cultivators and
introduce such means which might increase the produce of the land. Bridges and
roads were constructed and efforts were made to provide irrigation facilities
to the farmers of her jagirs. Takkavi loans were distributed to the needy
cultivators. There was also exemption of revenue, in case of calamity. The
Begum herself toured the countryside frequently, so that she could personally
come in contact of her people and know their grievances.
Keywords: Golden Age, Begum
Samru, Takkavi Loans, Sardhana, Jagirs.
Begum
Samru of Sardhana: An Iconic Figure
Begum Samru’s real name was Fazrana(
Pondicherry Records. Bussy in a letter of March 3, 1784 to De Castries) and she
was born in or about 1750-51[1]
at Kutana, 30 miles North-West of Meerut. She was a Saiyyidini[2]
and her father Luft Ali Khan was a nobleman, whose family from the unsettled
state of time had fallen into distress[3].
Luft Ali Khan[4]
married twice and Fazrana was his offspring by his second wife. When six year
old lost her father, her mother, along with Fazrana, left Kutana to Avadh so as
to avoid the cruelties of her step son and in the course of their wandering
reached Delhi in 1760[5].
As both, mother and daughter were penniless; Fazrana joined the companion of nauchnies[6], for earning a livelihood. She herself was trained for dancing but fate decreed that she should make other people dance instead of being herself obliged to dance for their amusement[7]. She came into contact with General Walter Reinhard Samru in or about in the end of year 1765 at Bharatpur and was united to him by all the forms considered necessary by persons of her persuasion when married to men another[8], in this way Fazrana passed into the harem of Samru Sahib and became his life partner[9]. When, where and how this marriage took place was a subject of controversy. After the death of General Samru in 1778, she inherited the jagir of Sardhana and decided to permanently settle there.
On the whole Begam jagir lay in Gangetic Doab and stretched form Muzaffarnagar to Aligarh including within it the areas of the parganas of Sardhana, Karnal, Budhana, Barnawa, Baraut, Kutana, Tappal and Jewar[10]. The principal pargana of this jagir and seat of administration was Sardhana. All these pargana contained 332 villages[11]. Besides these parganas she had some trans-Yamuna estates, two of which she claimed as her altamgha or royal grants in perpetuity. Among her property in this region may be mentioned the pargana of Badshahpur alias Jharsa, consisting of about 70 villages distant about 14 miles from Delhi. Butgone, a village in pargana Sonipat and Mauza of Bhoghpura Shah Ganj and a garden in Subah Akbarabad (Agra), together with the garden in neighbourhood of Deigh, were also held by her as personal property.[12] Nine villages’ viz. Garhee and Ca, formally part of jagir of Her Highness Bala Bai situated in the parganas of Barnawa and Budhana, belonged to Begam Samru and were in her possession. Daulat Rao Sindhia[13] granted her the Pahasu pargana which consisted of fifty four villages.
Though Begam called herself a feudal soverign[14], the British Government did not give her the title. Her jagir was an assignment for the payment of troops[15] and the entire holdings at the time of Begam’s death depended upon the will of the British Government. But at the time when Begam was entrusted with its administration, the condition was deplorable. After Aurangzeb, administration went from bad to worse. Constant decay of the Mughal Empire led to the rise of military state resulting in the lack of good governance. Oppression, poverty and financial ruin were prevalent and the nominal lieutenants of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam, were fighting for their personal interest. Everywhere there was chaos and disorder. Helpless farmers were oppressed, looted and pillaged[16].It was in this scenario that Begam provided a rule which was in unmatched in the area in and around Delhi.
Police and Prison
Administration
Under this the whole jagir was divided into
eight parganas and the village was its unit. Chaudharies, qanungoes, zamindars,
lamberdars were to pay fix revenues[17]
and to maintain law and order. Village panchayats or Caste panchayats decided
the cases and Begam herself dealt with cases where previous decisions were not
acceptable to parties. Criminals were punished severely and were put in jail.
They were sentenced to imprisonment for life and various terms of imprisonment
were given. After her death, 132 prisoners were found in Sardhana jail[18].
Military Administration
The strength of her army was 4246 in 1836. It
consisted of six battalions, the bodyguard, irregular cavalry and artillery
(Infantry---2946, Bodyguards---266, Cavalry---245, Artillery---789)[19].
These battalions were well armed, equipped and led by a fine body of men. The
army was organized on the European model and its payment was regular.
Adventurers of all nations were equally welcomed in her army. George Thomas was
an Irish, Levaisseau was French and Solari was an Italian[20].
Pension rolls showed that the regulars consisted of Hindustanis. She took
recruits from different communities too. It was the Muslim community which
formed the bulk of the army but communalism and localism were not the governing
factors. The troops were fine and stout looking men. A long caftan of quilted
cotton of a dirty brown colour, with turbans and sashes of white trousers down
to the ankles generally of the same material as the rest with tremendous
russet- coloured shoes bending upwards from the toe to a great height, formed
the uniform of her army[21].
Begam possessed a good arsenal and a foundry for cannon, both built within the
walls of the fortress of Sardhana[22].
Lashkarganj in the north of Sardhana was founded by Begam as the head camp for
her troops for whom, the plain between it and town formed the parade ground. To
the south-east of town of Sardhana there was an old fort which now no longer
exists[23].
She was conscious of the fact that merely friendly relations without an army at
her back would not be of much use at a time when several powers were contending
for supremacy in India. She therefore, set herself to remodel and increase her
army, whose reputation soon spread far and wide and the princess of Sardhana was
respected and her friendship was eagerly sought for, by all. After her death in
1836, the troops were paid up and disbanded by the Magistrate of Meerut, under
the orders of British Government.
Land Revenue
For the purpose of Land revenue, jagir was
divided into parganas and parganas into mahals. According to Mr. Plowden, the
net demand of her parganas ( Sradhana, Budhana, Baraut, Kutana, Barnawa and two
other villages[24])
for twenty years during 1814-34 A.D averaged Rs. 5,86,650 including cesses,
while the collection during the same period averaged Rs. 5,67,211 with balances
amounting on the whole to only Rs. 19,439,00. Begam also levied custom duties
on goods in transit at places of entry through her territory by land or water.
She enjoyed the right of collecting duties at ghats by virtue of Sunnaads from
the British Government[25].
Begam’s revenue policy was based on Mohammaden Law[26].
The mode of settlement adopted by her was liberal and according to cultivator’s
capacity. As the assessment was annual, village rent-rolls were framed on money
rates which were fixed and determined in each pargana and were classified on
the villages in cash, in a ratio graduated to the caste of cultivators of whom
Jats held the first rank. The rate per pucca bigha for sugarcane ranged from Rs
6 to Rs 9 as the lowest and from Rs 10 to Rs 15 as the highest, while in Meerut
they were Rs. 3 to 4.5 as the lowest and Rs. 9 to Rs 12 as the highest. An
Allowance from 2.5% to 12% was made as nankar[27].
In realizing the revenue, the takkavi advances were first recovered with
interest at 25% per annum and then a second deduction of rupees 7 % was made
for batta or loss in exchange on inferior rupees which was continued even when
full weight rupees were current[28].
The greatness of this system was that as the demand of State grows, the peasants
too, prospered.
Begum established peace and order in her jagir and tried to help the cultivators and introduce such means which might increase the produce of the land. Bridges and roads were constructed and efforts were made to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers of her jagirs. Takkavi loans were distributed to the needy cultivators. There was also exemption of revenue, in case of calamity. The Begum herself toured the countryside frequently, so that she could personally come in contact of her people and know their grievances. Help was provided for sinking wells. In village called Kandera, she got four walls sunk, and a metallic road was constructed in Bamnauli. Her fields looked greener and more flourishing and the people of her villages appeared happier and more prosperous than those of Company’s provinces.
Literature, Art, Music
& Architecture
Begam Samru was a
patron of the poets who thronged her court at Sardhana and were encouraged by
her benefaction.[29]
She herself was efficient in Persian and Urdu and wrote and spoke Persian and
Hindustani languages correctly and fluently. In conversation she was engaging
and spirited.[30]
She took keen interest in Persian and Urdu poetry and encouraged it by
bestowing rewards in manner of oriental sovereigns.[31]In
her court Harchand, Zafaryab Khan ‘Sahab’, Farsoo, Munshi Gokul Chand, Mirza
Rahim Beg and Hira Lal were prominent poets. Begam was also a generous patron
of art. Her palace contained an abundance of paintings, many of them executed.
There were many great paintings about the palace. Some portraits by Beechy and
a few specimens of Chinnery’s landscape were valuable and there was a cartload
of trash, three or four good likeness of a native painter Jiwan Ram, who
certainly had more of the art in him than any other painter of his time.[32]
His portraits, as far as features were concerned, were very faithful and
servile copies of the flesh. In life, expression and in figure he could paint
an eye, a nose, a mouth most accurately resembling the copy.[33]
Sardhana pictures were of historical importance and they displayed the taste of the Begam. Some portraits were to be found in Government House at Allahabad and now in Lucknow and one of them was at the Indian Institute at Oxford[34]. The prominent portraits include the portrait of Begam, meeting of Begam and Lord Combermere after the fall of Bharatpur in 1826[35], Begam presenting a chalice to the clergy at Sardhana, Dice Somber wearing his papal decoration painted at Sardhana, portrait of General Allard & Charles Metcalfe, Col. Steward who when in command at Anupshahr in 1790 was captured by Sikh Chief, Bhanga Singh while out riding and ransomed by Begam for Rs. 15,000. Of the other Sardhana picture, Indian Institute at Oxford possesses the portrait of Fr. Julius Ceasar, the first and last Bishop of Sardhana[36].
Music was actively patronized during her reign and she herself was very fond of dance. Chhotoo was a fine musician and enjoyed Begam’s favour throughout her life and was awarded a handsome pension[37].She used to hold Mushairas (poetic symposia) particularly at her kothi in Meerut where now Mr. Puesch resides. Famous poets and budding local talent also participated. Outside the court, bhajans, ragnis, and khayals were popular. Further, Begam took keen interest in feasts and festivals. Dinners and ballroom dancing were arranged at her residence[38]. Several European travelers have given a picturesque description of lavish display of wealth on such occasions[39]. Bacon, who once attended grand feasts, gives a detailed account, which runs as follows, “ The Begum usually gives a grand feast which lasts three days, during Christmas and to which nearly all leading the society of Meerut, Delhi and the surrounding stations are invited, I have by me one of her circulars. Her Highness The Begam Samru requests the honour of ………..’s company at Sardhana on the Christmas eve at the celebration of High mass and during the two following days, to ‘notch’ and a display of fireworks. Tents are prepared in the palace garden for the accommodation of visitors and every luxury, which are profuse outlay can secure, is provided for the company. The tables sumptuously spread; the viands and the wines are alike, excellent. Upon three grand occasions, the Begam usually honours the guest by presiding at the table but she does not herself partake any food in their presence. Not only the numerous visitors entertained in this magnificent style but the whole host of their followers and train are also feasted in the manner equally sumptuous in proportion of their condition. It was strange for Bacon to find that an enlightened British community, the victors of the soil, were paying homage and seeking favour at her foot-stool or even condescending to partake of her hospitality.
Begam was a great builder. The buildings which she erected bears testimony to her architectural taste. The most beautiful of all her buildings was undoubtedly, the Church. Begam created this temple of true God, on a scale of grandeur unrivalled at that time in these parts and she lavished on it all the magnificence and beauty, which art generously engaged, could contribute to its embellishment[40]. Begam sent its fine lithographic prints to Pope Gregory XVI and wrote that, “I am proud to say that my Church is acknowledged to be the finest, without any exception in India.” The Church began to be built in the year 1822 by Mr. Anthony Reghalini[41]. The alter was entirely of white marble brought from Jaipur. Behind it, towers a huge marble tabernacles with a niche, on which was enshrined a statue of the mother of Jesus. This statue was not of the time of Begam, since it was the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, whose apparitions took place twenty one years after the Begam’s death. In its place there originally was a beautifully painted picture of our lady of the Sacred Heart that now addresses the Seminary Chapel at St. John’s. It was replaced eventually, early in this century by the present statue. The former statue is now the treasured possessions of the convent of Jesus and Mary, where it stands enshrined in a garden, at the back of the Church[42].
On the left of the main alter there was the grand monument over the tomb of the Begam. It was the work of the great Italian sculptor, Adamo Tadolini of Bologua, one of the most illustrious followers of Canova. The monument was completed in 1842 at a cost of two and a half lacs of rupees, quite a large sum for those days. It was finally erected in the Church in 1870. Till then, the remains of Begam were confined in the side Chapel, which now enshrines the sacred image of Our Lady of Graces. When the monument arrived, it was found too large to be erected there. Hence, Begam’s remain had to be transferred to the place where they are now.[43] The entire thing was in Carrsra marble, perfectly white. It had eleven life sizes statues and three panels in base relief. The Begum, in her rich Indian dress was seated aloft on a chair of State, holding in her right hand a folded scroll, the Emperor Shah Alam’s ‘ fireman’ conferring on her the jagir of Sardhana. To her right stands Mr. Doyce Sombre in the mournful postures and on her left Diwan Rao Singh her minister. Immediately behind were Bishop Julius and Innayatullah, her commandant of Cavalry and first aid-in-camp in waiting. These four figures stand round a circular drum bearing the following inscription in Arabic, Latin and English: Sacred to the memory of Her Highness Juanna Zeb-ul-nisa, the Begum Sombre, styled the distinguished of nobles and beloved daughter of the State, who quitted a transitory code for an eternal world, revered and lamented by thousands of her devoted subjects at her place of Sardhana, on the 27th Jan,. 1836 aged 90 years. Her remains are deposited underneath in this Cathedral built by her. To her powerful mind, her remarkable talent and the wisdom, justice and moderation with which she governed for a period exceeding half a century, to whom she was more than a mother, is not the person to award the praise, but in grateful respect to her loving memory is this monument erected by him, who humbly trusts, she will receive a crown of glory that fedeth not away---David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre.Thomas Bacon described the Church as not an ungraceful building. For him it was built entirely for display. He wrote its decorations within the paltry and about the altar there is great deal of tinsel frippery and tasteless ornament, better fitted for a theatre. One slab of white marble there is which is deservedly admired for the beauty of its mosaic work, being inlaid with precious stones in the style of Taj Mahal at Agra.
The architecture was mixed and the Church was
built after model of St. Peter’s at Rome .H.G Keene in his book Hindustan under
Free Lances gives the following interesting account, of the church called Cathedral though when, the author knew the place
there was no Bishop- there is not so much to be said. Besides affording the
unwanted spectacle of large place of Christian worship in a Hindustani village,
the building has no special to notice. It is, however, of respectable
dimensions—170 feet long, with a central dome two lofty pines at the last end,
the Vicar Apostolic consecrates it in 1829. The interior is paved with marble
and relieved by moldings in hand stucco”. With these descriptions it can
easily be calculated that the Cathedral[44]
was a fine specimen of Muslim-European style. Its beauty and fame have
attracted many foreign and Indian visitors[45].
There have great builders in the history of the world, but nearly all of them
built building in big cities. It goes to the credit of Begam Samru that she
erected the Church and other buildings in a small village like Sardhana and
made it a place of world fame.
Other buildings of Begam Samru include The Old Palace, The Begam’s Palace, Anthon Kothi, The Begam’s Fort, Former Presbytery St. Joseph’s Convent, The Begam’s Palace at Meerut, The Begam’s Palaces at Delhi (Gernail Bibi Ki Haveli), Presbytery and Catholic Church, Houses at Khirwa and Jabalpur and Catholic Cementry.
The Old Palace
In front of the gate of
the Church there was a big building on the opposite side of the road. The
building was in Indian style. The Begam passed her life time in this building.
Though it was said that the building was in existence when she assumed the
reins of administration, but many additions and alterations were made by her
later on. There were underground rooms where the Begum used to retire to escape
the heat of summer. She gave this palace to Solaroli, an Italian adventurer and
a person of influence in her court. She then shifted into the palace which she
built for herself. Solaroli donated this building to the Catholic Diocese of
Agra. Later the building served for years as the Parish Priest’s residence and
also as an orphanage and seminary.
The Begam’s Palace
This palace was completed
in 1835 and Begam lived here for only one year. Bacon visited the palace and
gave the following description, It is a
handsome a spacious building, though still unfinished. The rooms are very large
and well proportioned and the furniture costly though heterogeneous and badly
arranged. The whole establishment is a mixture of grandeur and bad taste. Bacon
account was somewhat prejudiced. On the whole, the building arrests attention.
It was constructed by the same architect, who built the Church. Inside, there
was the Begam’s bath, all in marble with designs inlaid in Petra Dura and a
very pretty apartment, the audience hall or throne room. Its gate way was very
impressive and was known as the Sher-Darawaza. The palace or Dil-Kusha kothi,
stands in a vast enclosed garden and was raised upon a basement 11 feet in
height. The portico looks north and the landing of the staircase projects.
Parallel to the projection was a hall 42 feet by 36 feet, from which the
various apartments open on three sides. A winding staircase leads to somewhat
similar rooms on the other side. The whole façade was about 160 feet in height
and open on four principle sitting rooms besides the central hall. There were
bedrooms in the rear. The Catholic mission of Agra purchased the Begam’s Palace
with the annexed garden in 1897 for Rs. 25,000. At present the Begam’s Palace
lodged the Saint Charles Inter- College
Anthon Kothi
Outside the front of
the palace compound there stands another large building surrounded by an
extensive compound. It was the residence of Major Anthon Reghalini, The
architect of the Church and Begam’s Palace. At present it is a primary school.
Begam’s Palaces at
Delhi
On a smaller scale a
palace was built at Delhi. It consisted of a splendid mansion, the two or three
smaller houses. It was in Gothic style, modeled on her haveli in Sardhana. It
stands at the beginning of Chandi Chowk and is today hidden behind a cinema
hall and a bank and is known as Bhagirath palace. She also built a beautiful
palace near the palace of Sahiba Mahal, the wife of Mohammed Shah Rangella. It
was known as Gernail Bibi ki Haveli. But the palace was destroyed by the
British Government and a railway line was constructed over it near Kauria Bridge.
Nowadays, there is also a railway godown.
The Begam’s Palace at
Meerut
A large and commodious
house was built at Meerut. It lies on the south of the Meerut College. The
Begam generally visited the palace for a couple of months towards the close of
the year, bringing with her the chief of her trains.
Prestybery and a
Catholic Church
The Begam built a
prestybery and a Catholic Church for the British soldiers and officials in
Meerut in 1834, which was given to the Government in 1862. In the same year,
the present Catholic was solemnly blessed.
Houses at Khirwa
She built a very fine house
in Khirwa in Feb., 1828.
Residential Houses at
Jalalpur
Begam also built a residential
house at Jalalpur. The ruins of this house were still in existence in about
1874.
Catholic Cementary
This was also the
monument of Begam’s time. Many persons connected with the Begam’s life were
buried here. Some monuments were extraordinary beautiful. The domes were
beautifully designed and several parts of the inside were silver painted. Many
of the monuments are now in a sad state of decadence and require proper
maintenance. Lady Forester, the wife David Dyce Sombre, built a hospital with
the money left by The Begam for the purpose. A slab on the main Building
records its beginning Her highness the Begam Somber having left a
certain sum of money for charitable purposes, the same was applied in the
erection and the endowment of this hospital and dispensary by the right
honourable Mary Anne, the baroness Forester bfor the benefit of the poor of
Sardhana, Anno Domini 1861.
Religious Policy
Begum
Samru was a benevolent ruler. For her, there was no distinction between a
Hindu, Muslim or Christian as far as appointment/promotion in the public
services were concerned. The use of force in conversion was unknown and all
religions were put on equal footing. Diwan Har Karan das, Rao Diwan Singh,
Diwan Nar Singh Rao, Vakil Manna Lal and Munshi Gokul Chand were all Hindus and
held important posts. Inayatullah was her commandant of cavalry and first
aid-de-camp in waiting. Agha was head of the treasury. Abul Hasan Beg was a
commander in her service. Except the army, the administrative machinery of the
jagir was completely in the hands of Hindus and Muslims. The use of Persian as
the language of the record and accounts led the Hindus and Muslims to occupy
every office and no office was beyond their reach. A Christian colony had
developed had developed in Sardhana because the Begam herself was a Christian
and her army officers too were Christians. During her reign, some people of
lower castes converted themselves into Christian faith due to the genuine
efforts of the priests, but no force was ever used in doing so. As a good
Christian, Begam made large grants for charitable purposes[46].
The Church at Sardhana was erected, costing four lacs of rupees. She also gave
rupees 1, 00,000 to the Catholic Missions of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras;
rupees 30,000 to that of Agra; rupees 12,000 to the Church at Meerut; rupees
50,000 to the Archbishop of Canterbury and during her life she gave rupees 150
thousand or 143 thousand seven hundred and four pounds three shillings and four
pence to His Holiness, pope Gregory XVI[47].
Estimate of Begam Samru
Begum relieved her
territory from anarchy and restored peace and order. She was distinguished by
an unusual energy, enterprise and courage which enabled her to occupy a
position of eminence. All State Business was transacted under her own eyes. She
gave audience, carried on diplomatic correspondence with regularity and
supervised closely the activities of her subordinates. Peace and order were
well kept throughout her dominions[48],
no lawless chiefs were allowed to harbour criminals and defraud the public
revenue and the soil was maintained in complete cultivation. This was highly
commendable for an Asiatic ruler.[49]
It was due to her singular genius that she successfully ruled and attended to
the political and diplomatic problems at a time when, on the political field of
India, there were brilliant officers like Wellesley, Cornwallis, Barlow, Minto,
Lord Hasting, Amherst and William Bentinck as Governor General; David Octerlony,
Seton, Metcalfe, Martin and Fraser as Residents of Delhi and Arthur Wellesley
(who later on defeated Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo) and Lord Lake as
Generals. These men were of superior caliber and were on the scene. Kilpatrick,
Close, Elphinstone, Malcolm etc were also men of experience and talent. In the
history of British India such a galaxy of statesman, warriors and diplomats
were never noticed. The Mughal emperor called her the most beloved daughter and
the jewel of her sex. Mahadji Sindhia ever thought of her as his staunch
supporter. She served Daulat Rao Sindhia to her utmost, but the attitude of
Ambaji Engle and Perron changed her mind. She outwitted Lord Wellesley and was
very much applauded by General Lake[50].
William Bentinck always treated her as his most esteemed friend.
Like Victoria who ruled over England for a period extending over sixty three years, Begam Samru ruled the Sardhana principality for 58 years. Like Ahalya Bai, she maintained a stable and almost idyllic regime at Sardhana and like Chandbibi, who defended the city of Ahmednagar with valour, equal to that shown by Rani Durgawati in Gondwana, Begam Samru kept her principality safe against heavy odds. Razia Sultan and Nur-Jahan were little much to the abilities of Begam Samru whose outstanding position as a great political and military leader stands unsurpassed. Crafty and forceful, the Dowager Empress Tzu Hasi proved worse than a failure in China, lacking foresight and judgment, whereas Begam Samru’s remarkable ability made her outstanding among the galaxy of great women of the world in her own small way[51].
It was owing to her wisdom and practical ability that Chandkaur mother of Naunihal Singh once declared, “Why should I not do as Queen Victoria does in England? She would come out of the Zanarra, wear a turban or ride on elephant as a Sardar and receive the English Sahibs as did Begam Samru[52]. She certainly was a remarkable lady, the first and the last of the women who rose from the status of a dancing girl to a position of distinction and ruled over one of the most fertile plains of India. The greatness of Begam Samru lay in her spirit of liberality and justice which distinguished her character.
*------------------*
1. According to Sleeman she must
have born in or about 1741 as he writes, “Begum was baptized at the age of 40
by a Roman Catholic priest under the name of Joanna on 7th May,
1781” (1836 was the year of her death). Mr. Higgan Botham referring to Bacon’s
works says that she died at the age of 89, which places her birth in 1747. Mr.
Beals states that she was aged 88 limar year’s equivalent to about 85 solar
years. This places her birth in 1751. Mr. Keegan like Mr. Atkinson who stated
her birth in 1751 states says that “So far as the date can be plausibly conjectured,
she was born in about 1750.” Mr. Banerji places the date of her birth in
1750-51 pointing out in a letter addressed to Pope Gregory the 16th
by Dyce Sombre( her adopted son and heir) in 1836 which was the year of her
death, she is said to have reached the age of 85. This view is also supported
by George Thomas who was her famous general. He described her in 1796 as follows;
Begam Samru is about 45 years of age, small in stature but inclined to be
plump.
2. Concerning her parentage there are various accounts. One
historian asserts that she was the daughter of a decayed Mughal Nobleman
(Francklin). Another that, she was a Kashmiri dancing girl( Bussy in a letter
od March 3, 1784 to Marechal De Castries) and third that she was by birth a Saiyyidini
or lineal descendant of the prophet(Sleeman). Much more surprising was the
account written by Lt. Governor of the N.W Provinces on 4th May,
1836, which is as follows---“Having been previously, it is most probable, bot
Hindoo and Mohammadan, the former by birth and the latter in consequence of her
profession”. As a matter of fact, it is doubtful whether she herself knew of
her parentage. Sleeman visited Sardhana on 7th Feb, 1836 and
gathered information which can be relied upon. He writes,” The Begum Samru by
birth a Saiyyidini , or lineal desendant from Muhammad, the founder of Muslim
faith “.( Rambles and Recollections of an Indian official, Vol. II, p-267)
4. H.R Nevill in Meerut District
Gazetter states on page 157 that, “This remarkable women was the daughter of
one Asad Khan, a Musalman of Arab descent.” But Banerji tells “We only know
that her father was a nobleman named Luft Ali Khan.” p-14. It seems that Asad
Khan was none other than Luft Ali Khan.
14. According to ‘parwana’ available
in State Archives Allahabad, the Begum on Feb. 1, 1798 granted 40 bighas of
land situated in village of Khatauli, as a rent from land to Mohammed Suleh
Khan. The Begam also ordered that the grantee should utilize its produce for
his livelihood and pray for the welfare of the State. State Archives,
Allahabad. No. 1867.
33. Ibid.
34. Bengal: Past and Present, Vol. XXX, p-203.
35. Begum also sent to General Lord
Viscount Combermere, her portrait and insisted upon a return of compliment. The
picture, a work of a native artist, who resided in Meerut and had made a
respectable progress in arts was an exceptionally good likeness.(Mundy, Pen and Pencil Sketches in India, p-179)
36. Bengal: Past and Present, Vol. XXX, p-203.
37. Foreign Poli. 23rd
May, 1836, Cons. No. 75.
38. Poli Progs, 8th July,
1831, Cons. No. 96, p-278.
39. At the dinner, Begam seemed in
excellent humour and handed jokes and compliments with His Excellency (Lord
Combermere) through the medium of interpreter. When the feast ended, European
officer in her service walked around the table and invested each of the guests
with a long necklace of tinsel. (Mundy, Pen
and Sketches in India, p-181)
50. Substance of a letter from Lord
Lake dated 6th August, 1805, “I have been highly gratified by
accounts from Mr. Guthrie of your Highness’s goodwill and friendship towards
the British Government, that Gentlemen has been requested to wait upon your
highness and adjust carefully all your affairs and be assured of the lasting
and uninterrupted support and countenance of the British Government”.
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