Begum Hazrat Mahal Begum Hazrat Mahal, the charming queen of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah , put her

all in order to revitalize the status of Awadh In the history of India , Begum Hazrat Mahal has established a place of importance. Begum Hazrat Mahal was also famous as Begum of Awadh. She was the beautiful wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Begum Hazrat Mahal was an epitome of bodily charm and embellish with sharp managerial acquisitions and acumen. Only after the exile of her husband to Calcutta, begum Hazrat Mahal had taken the onus of looking after the stately affairs of Awadh , which then made up of huge portions of the present state of Uttar Pradesh of Indian subcontinent . The achievements of Begum Hazrat Mahal are quite remarkable. At the time of 1st War of Independence of India , Begum Hazrat Mahal was successful enough to take control of Lucknow . She also managed to head a group of supporters against the then British rulers. Begum Hazrat Mahal announced that her son Birjis Qadr to be the ruler of Awadh. As per the historians, she also thought to have worked in close affiliation with several leaders of the First War of Independence of India . Nana Sahib was one of them. Others include Sarafaddaulah, Bal Krishna, Raja Jai Lal and Mammon Khan who worked ceaselessly for reviving the fates of Awadh However , the Britons captured Lucknow again and thereby , Begum Hazrat Mahal was being forced to draw back. Till her end she could mention her dignity and rejected all the offerings and allurements offered by the British Empire. Finally, Begum Hazrat Mahal went to Nepal . There she had been provided shelter by the `Rana prime minister` , namely Jung Bahadur. In the soils of Nepal only , Begum Hazrat Mahal passed her last breath. It was in the year 1879 and on

the lands of Jama Masjid of Kathmandu , she was given burial in a nameless grave. Few years back on 10th of May of the 1984, the government of India published a stamp in tribute of the Begum Hazrat Mahal. Many of are not familiar with great freedom fighters who fought the British during the Ist war of Indian Independence!! There were great persons like Jhansi Rani, Nana Saheb who sacrificed their lives for our freedom!! Begum Hazrat Mahal was one of them. She was the stunningly beautiful wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. A large part of todays Uttar Pradesh was then called as Awadh. Her husband was deported to Calcutta by the British. Begum then took over the affairs of Awadh. She led a revolutionary force inspiring them to fight and capture Lucknow for a brief time! She again proved her bravery by fighting in the attack on Sahajahanpur. After her attempts failed, she contemptuously refused the allowance and status offered by the British and escaped to Nepal. She died in 1879. On 15 August 1962, she was honored at a simple ceremony in the old Victoria Park. A marble memorial was announced as open that was built by the state Government in the memory of the Begum. And on 10th of May of the 1984, the government of India published a stamp in tribute of the Begum Hazrat Mahal. After another daring attack upon Shahjahanpur failed, Begum escaped to Nepal. She dismissed offers of allowance and status by the British and eventually died in 1979. Her courage, her rise from humble origins, her determination to fight injustice and her love for the motherland make her a true inspiration for all modern women of India. Begum I salute your bravery!! You are a true inspiration to every modern woman of India!!