A benevolent Begum of Bengal - Munni Begum

Nawab of Bengal Indianetzone

Munni Begum built The Chawk Mosque. W.Bengal wikipedia.org

In the case of Indian Nawabs in the early centuries, seldom had their wife -Sahiba or Begum played an active role in politics.There are some exceptions. However, in those days administration of a kingdom was the main domain of males and the role of women was very much restricted. As a result, women's capacity to lead a nation, their administrative skill and ability remained unexplored. In the case of Munni Begum, wife of Mir Jafer (the man who became a traitor of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah), there arose an

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opportunity for her to show her skills and tactics to manage a royal house on her own with the help of the East India British company officials.
The Chawk Mosque in the city of Murshidabad, India was founded in 1767 AD by Munny Begum, wife of Nawab Mir Jafar, under the supervision of Shaikh Khalilallah. The mosque was a silent spectator of Bengal's glorious past history of Nawobs vis-a -vis British East India company. It is located in Nizamat Fort Area near the Hazarduari Palace and its other nearby buildings.

Munni Begum was in the good book of Robert Clive and Warren Hastings of EI company. Her popularity was mainly not only due to her lavish gifts to Clive and other servants in the company, but also her financial help to orphanages, widows and destitute girls. Coming from a poor family, she always had a soft corner for the poor and destitute. She received numerous gifts from the East India company in return for her several favors to the company. she was a Gaddinashin Begum receiving INR 12000.00 pension per month.
Munni Begum, the second wife of Mir Jafar was appointed Nawob by the East India company after the defeat of Siraj-ud-daulah. She was born to a poor mother in village Balkunda near Sikanda, a suburb of Agra UP. Because of poverty her mother sold her to a dancing troupe which took her to places far and wide - mostly royal households and finally at last to Murshidabad. A dancing girl of exceptional beauty and skill, she and her troupe were advised to stay in that town and the troupe stayed there as there would be many opportunities in that town. Later she found a place in the royal harem. Being smart and intelligent, she won the heart of Mir Jafe, then Army Chief of Nawob Alivardi Khan. and became the most favorite among Jafer's wives. She enjoyed the status of Queen consort in the harem/zamana. In terms of attention and influence in the royal household, soon Munni Begum over showed Mir Jaffer's wife Shah Khanam.

After Jafer's death on 6 February,1765, she inherited his vast wealth and became closer to Clive and Hastings. She gave Rs. Five lakhs to Clive to put her son Najmuddaula on the Mansad. After the death of both her sons between 1766 and 1770 (her second son Naijabat Ali Khan) her fame faded away. The grand son of Babbu Begum, Mir Jafer's another wife ultimately became the young Nabob on recommendation of court of directors in London. Munni Begum 's guardianship of Harem administration previously approved by Warren Hastings was canceled. Further, Hastings was accused of having received bribes from the Begum for her new position in the royal house.

On the day Munni Begam died - 10 January, 1813 at the ripe age of ninety-seven, at Fort William, Calcutta, the Union Jack was hoisted half-mast and ninety guns were fired as a mark of respect to her and her good deeds to the British company. She was buried with due honors in the the family graveyard of Mir Jafar in Jafarganj Cemetery, Murshidabad.

She left behind a vast fortune in cash, gold and jewels along with a distinctive place in the history of Bengal as a humane and selfless benevolent Begum who started her carrier in the shadow of poverty and hunger.
Tit-bits:
01. Munni Begum- Queen consort of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Her 1st reign: 2 June 1757 – 20 October 1760; 2nd reign: 25 July 1763 – 17 January 1765.

02. When Babbu Begum's influence was on the rise, Munni begum's influence in the family declined.

03. Sikanda: Great Mogul ruler Akbar's tomb is in Sikanda.
Ref:
www.banglaped.org
www.telegraphindia.com/1070623/asp/nation/story_