Begum Hazrat Mahal was born in a very poor family in 1820 AD in a small village in Faizabad district of Awadh province. In childhood, everyone used to call him Muhammadi Khatoon (Mohammed Khanum). The pathetic condition of the family of Begum Hazrat Mahal was so bad that her parents could not even feed her. Due to which he was forced to dance in the royal families. There she was included in the fairy group of the royal harem, after which she became known as the ‘Mahak Pari’. Once the Nawab of Awadh saw her, he was in awe of her beauty and included her in his royal harem and made her his wife. After this she gave birth to a son named Birjis Kadar. Then he was given the title of ‘Hazrat Mahal’.
Held the throne after the Nawab was taken prisoner
After living a life full of struggles, the Nawab became a begum, but it did not last long. In 1856 AD, the British East India Company captured the state of Awadh and took Tajdar-e-Awadh Nawab Wajid Ali Shah as a prisoner. After which Begum Hazrat Mahal took over the power of the state of Awadh by placing her minor son Birjis Kadar on the throne. From July 7, 1857, she entered the battlefield against the British. She was a skilled strategist, who possessed many qualities including a military and combat skill. He fought bravely against the British army to save his kingdom from the clutches of the British.
Also read: To do digital marketing course from IIT Delhi, then take admission like this, you will get better career options
women’s army was their power
Begum Hazrat Mahal saw all religions equally, she never discriminated on the basis of religion, she also gave equal rights to the soldiers of all her religions. Historians believe that she herself went to the battlefield to encourage her soldiers. The army of Hazrat Mahal also included women soldiers, who were their protective shield.
got his kingdom free from the British
When the revolt started in 1857, Begum Hazrat Mahal, along with her army and supporters, started a rebellion against the British East India Company. Under the able leadership of Begum Hazrat Mahal, her army had rescued the sixes of the British in the battle at Chinhat, Dilkusha near Lucknow. In this rebellion in Lucknow, the courageous Begum Hazrat Mahal recaptured Lucknow by freeing Gonda, Faizabad, Salon, Sultanpur, Sitapur, Bahraich etc. areas of Awadh province from the British. According to historians, many kings supported Begum Hazrat Mahal in this fight against the British. Impressed by the military talent of Begum Hazrat Mahal, Nana Sahib, who played a major role in the freedom struggle, also supported her. At the same time, Raja Jayalal, Raja Mansingh also supported Rani Hazrat Mahal in this fight.
In this battle, Hazrat Mahal led his army by riding on an elephant, due to this terrible war the British were forced to hide in Lucknow Residency. However, later the British attacked Lucknow once again on the strength of more army and weapons and took control of Lucknow and most of Oudh. Due to which Begum Hazrat Mahal had to retreat and leave her palace.
Also read: Career Options: Make a career in Robotic Engineering, you will get a good package
Despite the defeat, the British continued to compete
After this defeat, she went to the countryside of Awadh and gathered people to fight against the British. He made the forests of Awadh his home. During this, he along with Nana Saheb and Maulvi of Faizabad also attacked in Shahjahanpur and suppressed the British with guerrilla warfare policy. It is said that Begum Hazrat Mahal was the first Begum who defeated the British in the rebellion of Lucknow, together with all the Hindu-Muslim kings and the people of Awadh. Begum Hazrat Mahal was the first to accuse the British of creating division and hatred in the religion of Muslims and Hindus.
Had to take refuge in Nepal
Maulana Ahmad Shah was assassinated during a fight with the British, after which Begum Hazrat Mahal was left all alone and left with no other option but to leave Awadh. At the same time, the British imprisoned Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar and sent him to Rangoon. The situation had worsened, but even after this, Hazrat Mahal did not want him to be a prisoner of the British. So she went to Nepal with her son. King Rana Jang Bahadur of Nepal was also very impressed by his courage and self-respect, so he gave refuge to Begum Hazrat Mahal in Nepal. Here she started living like an ordinary woman with her son and it was here that she breathed her last in 1879. The body of Begum Hazrat Mahal was buried at Jama Masjid in Kathmandu.
,