The Beguiling Princess Begum Niloufer
Khanum Sultana Farhat (1916 –1989) was one
of the last princesses of the Ottoman Empire. She was born in the Goztepe Palace in Istanbul in Turkey. Princess was married with Prince Moazzam Jaah, the second son of the Nizam of Hyderabad,
His Exalted Highness Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan.
Khanum Sultana Farhat (1916 –1989) was one
of the last princesses of the Ottoman Empire. She was born in the Goztepe Palace in Istanbul in Turkey. Princess was married with Prince Moazzam Jaah, the second son of the Nizam of Hyderabad,
His Exalted Highness Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan.
Niloufer
was born at a time when her mother’s family was ruling the Ottoman Empire. Her
father was Damad Moralizada Salaruddin Bey Effendi, a prominent member of the
Ottoman court. Her mother, Adile Sultan, was a daughter of Şehzade Mehmed Selaheddin, the eldest
son of Sultan Murad V, and a sister of Sultan Abdülmecid II, the last
caliph.
At that time, rescue came from the
Nizam of Hyderabad. The Nizam promised Khalifa a pension of 300
British Pounds a month. On this income, the Khalifa maintained his
establishment.
On
December 20, 1931, at her maternal uncle’s Palace in Nice, Niloufer was married
at age 16 to Moazzam Jaah, second son of the last ruling Nizam of
Hyderabad. The Nizam’s elder son and heir was married to Niloufer’s first
cousin, Dürrü şehvar,
daughter of Sultan Abdülmecid II. The
Khalifa himself acted as the Qazi.
was born at a time when her mother’s family was ruling the Ottoman Empire. Her
father was Damad Moralizada Salaruddin Bey Effendi, a prominent member of the
Ottoman court. Her mother, Adile Sultan, was a daughter of Şehzade Mehmed Selaheddin, the eldest
son of Sultan Murad V, and a sister of Sultan Abdülmecid II, the last
caliph.
Niloufer, at the age of eight, moved with her parents into exile in Nice in France. At the end of World War
I, the ruling dynasty was deposed and Turkey was declared a republic. Later, in
1924, the Ottomans were exiled from Turkey. They settled in France.
I, the ruling dynasty was deposed and Turkey was declared a republic. Later, in
1924, the Ottomans were exiled from Turkey. They settled in France.
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| Princess Niloufer |
This resulted Sultan, Abdul Majid II, who also had the title of the Khalifa, to give up
his palatial possessions. For the Muslims worldwide, this was a low point in
their history when the Khalifa himself became a poor man.
At that time, rescue came from the
Nizam of Hyderabad. The Nizam promised Khalifa a pension of 300
British Pounds a month. On this income, the Khalifa maintained his
establishment.
The deposition of the Khalifa was a significant political
event. During this Khilafat movement, to restore the Khalifat, Maulana Shoukat
Ali came to be on very friendly terms with the Khalifa. Seeing that the Khalifa
had no son, Shoukat Ali proposed that the Khalifa’s daughter, Durru Shehvar, be
married to Azam Jaah the elder son of Nizam.
event. During this Khilafat movement, to restore the Khalifat, Maulana Shoukat
Ali came to be on very friendly terms with the Khalifa. Seeing that the Khalifa
had no son, Shoukat Ali proposed that the Khalifa’s daughter, Durru Shehvar, be
married to Azam Jaah the elder son of Nizam.
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| Prince Moazama Jaah and Princess Niloufer
The negotiations for the terms of the marriage
started, but soon broke down as the Nizam felt that the requirement for the Mehr was exorbitant. Eventually, the Nizam was able to get two marriages within the specified amount. |
On
December 20, 1931, at her maternal uncle’s Palace in Nice, Niloufer was married
at age 16 to Moazzam Jaah, second son of the last ruling Nizam of
Hyderabad. The Nizam’s elder son and heir was married to Niloufer’s first
cousin, Dürrü şehvar,
daughter of Sultan Abdülmecid II. The
Khalifa himself acted as the Qazi.
They were taught how to wear sarees, and the
expected etiquette in the presence of the Nizam. With great trepidation,
they boarded the train to Hyderabad.
expected etiquette in the presence of the Nizam. With great trepidation,
they boarded the train to Hyderabad.
Thus, one of the last princesses of the Ottoman Empire,
Princess Niloufer brought grace and rebellion to conservative India upon
marrying Moazzam Jaah. Pushing boundaries with her sense of style and challenging traditional norms
for women, she encouraged others to follow their hearts too.
Princess Niloufer brought grace and rebellion to conservative India upon
marrying Moazzam Jaah. Pushing boundaries with her sense of style and challenging traditional norms
for women, she encouraged others to follow their hearts too.
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| Princess Niloufer |
Niloufer and Moazzam Jaah moved in
to magnificent Hill Fort palace. It was a large palace, purchased from the
previous owner, Sir Nizamat Jung. Who served
as chief justice in the government of Nizam, India. This building still stands, on the ascent from
Public Gardens to Noubat Pahad.
to magnificent Hill Fort palace. It was a large palace, purchased from the
previous owner, Sir Nizamat Jung. Who served
as chief justice in the government of Nizam, India. This building still stands, on the ascent from
Public Gardens to Noubat Pahad.
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| Hill Fort Palace Hyderabad |
Prince
Moazzam Jaah was a poet himself and almost every evening, Moazzam Jaah organized
a Mushaera. Many well known names were present in the gatherings. Fond of a lavish lifestyle, he
doted on his wife and got her painted and photographed. Life seemed to be
hunky-dory.
Moazzam Jaah was a poet himself and almost every evening, Moazzam Jaah organized
a Mushaera. Many well known names were present in the gatherings. Fond of a lavish lifestyle, he
doted on his wife and got her painted and photographed. Life seemed to be
hunky-dory.
Princesses Durru Shehvar and Niloufer were distant cousins.
So when they moved to Nice, France, Princess Niloufer noticed a drastic change
in her lifestyle,”. “Princess Durru Shehvar’s father was Abdülmecid II, the
last Caliph of the Muslim world; a position held with respect and utmost
dignity in the community.
So when they moved to Nice, France, Princess Niloufer noticed a drastic change
in her lifestyle,”. “Princess Durru Shehvar’s father was Abdülmecid II, the
last Caliph of the Muslim world; a position held with respect and utmost
dignity in the community.
Princess
Niloufer’s mother Adile Sultan was a widow and that lowered her social strata.
In her letters, Princess Niloufer writes how she had to go to public schools
while Princess Durru Shehvar had private tutors coming home.
Niloufer’s mother Adile Sultan was a widow and that lowered her social strata.
In her letters, Princess Niloufer writes how she had to go to public schools
while Princess Durru Shehvar had private tutors coming home.
The
first daughter in-law Durru Shehvar gave birth to a son, Mukarram Jaah.
When several years passed, and still Niloufer had not conceived, she consulted
various doctors in Europe and was planning to go to America for a medical
visit.
first daughter in-law Durru Shehvar gave birth to a son, Mukarram Jaah.
When several years passed, and still Niloufer had not conceived, she consulted
various doctors in Europe and was planning to go to America for a medical
visit.
This ravishing princess also had a
heart that beat for others. When she saw her maid servant, Rafat-un-nisa, die
during childbirth she got devastated. She did not remain content with just
sympathizing with the bereaved family but decided to do something for women in
general. “Hereafter, no more Rafats shall die for want of good medical
facilities,” she
resolved.
heart that beat for others. When she saw her maid servant, Rafat-un-nisa, die
during childbirth she got devastated. She did not remain content with just
sympathizing with the bereaved family but decided to do something for women in
general. “Hereafter, no more Rafats shall die for want of good medical
facilities,” she
resolved.
This
tragic incident led to the establishment of a hospital for women and children
which the Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, named after his daughter-in-law, the present “NILOFAR
HOSPITAL” in Red Hills.
tragic incident led to the establishment of a hospital for women and children
which the Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, named after his daughter-in-law, the present “NILOFAR
HOSPITAL” in Red Hills.
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| Moazzam Jaahi Market |
While her private life seemed empty due to lack of
children, her public life became very glittering. She was invited to
several functions, inaugurated several events and became a torch-bearer for
women’s advancement.
children, her public life became very glittering. She was invited to
several functions, inaugurated several events and became a torch-bearer for
women’s advancement.
Meanwhile, the specialist doctors in
Europe were unable to deduce a solution to her childlessness. In 1948, 17 years
after his marriage to Niloufer, her husband Moazzam took a second wife, Razia
Begum, daughter of local aristocracy in Hyderabad.
Europe were unable to deduce a solution to her childlessness. In 1948, 17 years
after his marriage to Niloufer, her husband Moazzam took a second wife, Razia
Begum, daughter of local aristocracy in Hyderabad.
The second marriage was quickly
blessed with children and three daughters were born within four years.
Eventually, in 1952, after 21 years of marriage, Niloufer and her husband were
divorced.
blessed with children and three daughters were born within four years.
Eventually, in 1952, after 21 years of marriage, Niloufer and her husband were
divorced.
Princesses Niloufer was judged one of the 10 most
beautiful women in the world, and was offered several roles in
films. Niloufer had a style of dressing that attracted the public and
caught the attention of the fashion media. Her sarees were especially crafted
by Madhavdas, a designer from Bombay.
beautiful women in the world, and was offered several roles in
films. Niloufer had a style of dressing that attracted the public and
caught the attention of the fashion media. Her sarees were especially crafted
by Madhavdas, a designer from Bombay.
When India became independent, Niloufer was in a
peculiar position. Hyderabad had yet to decide on joining the Indian
Union. As this situation dragged on, eventually Hyderabad was amalgamated
into the Indian Union by a “Police Action”.
peculiar position. Hyderabad had yet to decide on joining the Indian
Union. As this situation dragged on, eventually Hyderabad was amalgamated
into the Indian Union by a “Police Action”.
Although the Nizam was retained as the Head of the
State, he was just a shadow of his former self. Niloufer decided never to
return to India again. Her marriage with Moazzam Jaah came to an end in
1952. She continued to live in Paris, with her mother, in a flat.
State, he was just a shadow of his former self. Niloufer decided never to
return to India again. Her marriage with Moazzam Jaah came to an end in
1952. She continued to live in Paris, with her mother, in a flat.
After
her divorce, Niloufer moved to France where the Ottoman family had settled
after their exile from Turkey. A number of other royal exiles from several
countries were also settled in Nice and the Côte d’Azur and
Niloufer maintained an active social life. On February 21, 1963, in Paris,
Niloufer married Edward Julius Pope, an American war hero, author, and film
producer. She died in Paris in 1989 and was
buried next to her mother.
her divorce, Niloufer moved to France where the Ottoman family had settled
after their exile from Turkey. A number of other royal exiles from several
countries were also settled in Nice and the Côte d’Azur and
Niloufer maintained an active social life. On February 21, 1963, in Paris,
Niloufer married Edward Julius Pope, an American war hero, author, and film
producer. She died in Paris in 1989 and was
buried next to her mother.
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| Royal Darbar Hall of Nizams in Khilwat Shareef in Hyderabad |
Princess Niloufer Farhat Begum of Hyderabad was the ‘Kohinoor
of Hyderabad’ and one of the most beautiful women in the world. “Princess
Niloufer’s extraordinary beauty made her an object of admiration by the public.
of Hyderabad’ and one of the most beautiful women in the world. “Princess
Niloufer’s extraordinary beauty made her an object of admiration by the public.
Written with help of
materials available on net and posted by Engr Maqbool Akram
materials available on net and posted by Engr Maqbool Akram
