A True Tragic Love Story :Khair un Nisa Hyderabadi Princess & James Kirkpatrick British Resident at the court of the Nizam

Love is a powerful feeling, and it is often a little different depending on what a person is giving to or receiving from the person who they love.

 

Let's look at one such tragic love story that emerged from the streets of Hyderabad, a love that did not fear society, and a love story that lives on to amaze us.

Long back in the 1790s, Hyderabad sensed a breath of new air that, later on, changed the way people perceived love. A handsome, young gentleman from Madras, James Achilles Kirkpatrick, had a love story to narrate that would be etched in the golden history of Hyderabad.

 

Before the War of Independence in 1857, after which India became part of the British Empire, many British men working for the East India Company, who came  in India in the prime of their youth. To make their fortune, got married to local women and settled down to raise families.

There were very few white women available and they were compelled to visit brothels or, like well-to-do Indians, maintain harems of Indian concubines or mistresses.

They were not particularly concerned about the religious divide: if they wanted to marry Muslim women, they underwent nominal conversion to Islam; if they took on Hindu wives, they observed Hindu customs and gave up eating beef.

A True Tragic Love Story: Among the most celebrated liaisons followed by a secret marriage ending in painful separation was that of Begum Khair-un-Nissa, niece of the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, and a Scotsman, Colonel James Achilles Kirkpatrick, British Resident at the court of the Nizam.

 

James Achilles Kirkpatrick: The White Moghul

A True Love Story: The tale of the romance between James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the British Resident at the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad and his Muslim wife Khair-u-Nissa Begum for whom he converted to Islam and with whom he had two children.

 

James Achilles Kirkpatrick was born at Fort St. George, Madras in 1764 but sent back to Britain where he attended Eton College.

 

To make his name and his fortune, the ambitious young man returned as a self-confident young imperialist intending to conquer India by working for the British East India Company and became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Company’s Army.

James Kirkpatrick

Nizam-ul-Mulk Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi Bahadur Asaf Jah II reigned Hyderabad from 1762 to 1803.

 

James was initially appointed as the translator at the Nizam’s court during his elder Brother William Kirkpatrick’s tenure as the Companys Resident (ambassador) in Hyderabad.

 

In 1795, savvy and skilled at diplomacy, at only 33 years of age, he replaced his brother as the Resident.

 

A good looking and charming young diplomat, he was responsible as the East India Company’s Resident in Hyderabad for nurturing relations with the State’s rulers and keep them on the side of the British.

 

Taking his diplomatic tasks very seriously, he fluently conversed in Persian, Hindustani, Tamil and Telegu and immersed himself in Hyderabadi Indo-Persian culture.

 

One his first tasks was to build a stately Residency at Hyderabad. The Palladian style house was designed by Lt Samuel Russell of the Madras Engineers, the son of the Royal Academician John Russell.

British Residency Hyderabad -Now Koti Women's College

James smoked hukkahs, chewed paan, attended mujras and even had a zenana, living the life of a genuine White Mughal. He fathered many children with various local women that he kept there, just like the Hyderabadi elite.

British Residency-Hyderabad

Living like a Hyderabadi out of choice, Kirkpatrick related to them and understood their point of view, which he would present to his superiors.

 

Nizam awarded him with titles like Mutamin ul Mulk (Safeguard of the kingdom), Hushmat Jung (Valiant in battle) and Nawab Fakhr-ud-Dowlah Bahadur (Governor, pride of the state, and hero).

 

In 1800 James Kirkpatrick met the fourteen year old grand daughter of the Vizier of Hyderabad, Nawab Mahmood Ali Khan.

 

Khair-u-Nissa fell in love with James Achilles Kirkpatrick

Though Khair-un-Nissa (the matchlessly beautiful) was kept in strict purdah (veil), during the engagement ceremonies for her elder sister, she saw James Kirkpatrick in the court and fell in love.

 

She somehow managed to leave the confines of the zenana (ladies quarter) one evening, presented herself before Kirkpatrick and pleaded her love.

Hyderabadi Princess -- "Khair un Nisa"

Kirkpatrick met all the conditions plus the Nizam made him his adopted son. The couple was duly married in a nikkah ceremony. Kirkpatrick was elevated to the ranks of Hyderabadi nobility. The couple became known in Hyderabadi circles as Sahib Begum and Sahib Allum.

 

James built a separate zenana in the Residency compound for Khair-u-Nissa who still observed purdah.

 

The couple lived in an enthralled world of aromatic gardens, delicious fruits, cooing pigeons, sparkling jewels, veils fluttering in the gentle evening breeze.

Khair un Nissa

Khair became renowned for her fair complexioned, delicate featured beauty. Her portrait was said at the time to do no justice to her good looks.

 

The good looking couple had two children: a son, Mir Ghulam Ali Sahib Allum, and a daughter, Noor-un-Nissa Sahib Begum.

 

Shortly after the marriage in as early 1801, a major scandal broke out in Calcutta over the nature of Kirkpatrick’s role at the Hyderabad court.

 

His reputation had become suspicious of late but it was not unheard of British officers to dress and even live like the natives. However, in James case his loyalty was questioned. 

James Achilles Kirkpatrick with his Entire Family

Worse, Kirkpatrick had formally married the girl, by converting not just in name but in deed and had become a practising Shia Muslim.

 

Governor General Wellesley was not kindly willing to Kirkpatrick’s relationship with the Nizam. Wellesley, having decided to dismiss Kirkpatrick, summoned him to Calcutta.

 

Upon questioning, James at first denied his marriage with Khair un-Nissa, but upon the Company’s further investigation into the matter he confessed that he had married her in an Islamic ceremony.

He was summarily dismissed and as a punishment for his religious conversion it was decided that his two Anglo-Indian children would be taken away from the parents and sent to Britain to be raised as Christians.

Governor Genaral "Richard Colley Wellesley

A tearful Khair-un-Nissa had secured a settlement of £10,000 each on five year old William and three year old Kitty, a substantial sum at the time.

 

The great Tragedy: James Achilles Kirkpatrick died young at 41. Khair-un-Nissa was only 19

 

James, perhaps already perhaps fatally ill, died of a fever on October 15 1805 in Calcutta, young, aged 41 shortly after his kids were shipped off. Khair-un-Nissa was only 19.

Khair-u-Nissa heard of his death 18 days later. In his will, Kirkpatrick stated: the excellent and respectable Mother of my two children for whom I feel unbounded love and affection and esteem.

 

The two children were elated under the care of a Mrs Ure and an entourage of servants. Their baggage included shawls, jewellery and valuables worth £2000 and Captain George Elers, a fellow passenger, bribed the customs officials at Portsmouth twenty guineas to clear their baggage unopened.

 

Without her children and her husband, Khair-un-Nissa turned for protection to Kirkpatrick’s assistant Henry Russell who replaced him as the Resident in Hyderabad.

William Dalrymples -Author of "White Moghuls"

After spending a few years with the widow, Russell tired of her and married a younger half-Portuguese heiress he had met in Madras.

 

The Sad Ending: Khair-un-Nissa too died young at 27.

Hyderabad aristocracy hadn’t approved of Khair-un-Nissa’s suspected liaison and exiled her to the coastal town of Masulipatam for a while. She died heart broken at the young age of 27 in 1813.

 

Further Story of the two children after death of their parents  "Khair-un-Nisa & James Achilles Kirkpatrick"

Kitty was (born on 9 April 1802) initially named Noor un-Nissa, Sahib Begum ("Little Lady of High Lineage") and was raised alongside her brother William (known as Mir Ghulam Ali, Sahib Allum) in the mansion her father built, living in the zenana with her mother and maternal grandmother.

Kitty Kirpatrick & and her Brother William Kirkpatrick

 In 1805, Kitty and William were sent to live in England at age three and five years, respectively, with their paternal grandfather, Colonel James Kirkpatrick.

 

The two children were baptised as Christians on 25 March 1805, at St Mary's Church in London, and were thereafter known by their new Christian names, William George Kirkpatrick and Katherine Aurora "Kitty" Kirkpatrick.

 

James Achilles Kirkpatrick died on 15 October 1805, around 8 months after Kitty and William had left India. In his will, James describes William and Kitty as his "natural children," leaving large fortunes to each, and left money to his nieces and nephews, the children of his brother William Kirkpatrick, to whom he was deeply indebted.

 

William Kirkpatrick was elder brother of James Achilles Kirkpatrick

William Kirkpatrick, who had needed to retire to England mid-career due to increasingly poor health, had arranged for James Achilles Kirkpatrick to step into his prestigious position as Resident at Hyderabad.

William Kirkpatrick (Elder Brother of James Kirkpatrick

James used his fortune to support William Kirkpatrick and his children out of his love for and gratitude toward his elder brother.

 

In 1812, William suffered a severe burn injury resulted in the elimination of one of his arms, and became isolated thereafter, though he successfully graduated from Oxford University in 1820, married, and had three daughters before his early death in 1828.

 

Her brother's death, as well as that of her grandfather and other relations, left Kitty with a substantial inheritance estimated at about £50,000.

 

Into maturity Kitty became known for her charm, and in 1822, she met the Scottish philosopher and historian, Thomas Carlyle, who swiftly became lovesick with Kirkpatrick.

Prtrait of Young "Kitty Kirkpatrick"---1830 In England

 

The romance was encouraged by another of Kitty's cousins, Julia (who married Edward Strachey, grandfather of the writer Lytton Strachey).

 

However, Carlyle was penniless and not believed by the rest of the family to be a suitable match for the wealthy and well-connected Kitty.

On 21 November 1829, Kitty married James Winslowe Phillipps (1802-1859), a British Army officer in the 7th Hussars Regiment, and a member of the Kennaway family, which also had Indian connections.

 

It was evidently a happy marriage, Kirkpatrick and Phillipps went on to have seven children, of whom four survived to adulthood.

Kitty Kirkpatrick died at her home, the Villa Sorrento, in Torquay, Devon, in 1889.

Khair, the lovely princess, is still remembered by the Telangana Government. They named a tourist boat after her!

Boat "Khair un Nisa"

The End

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“अबाबील” कहानी: ख्वाजा अहमद अब्बास- दरवाजा खोला तो वह मर चुका था. उसकी पायंती चार अबाबीलें सर झुकाए खामोश बैठी थीं.

उसका नाम तो रहीम ख़ाँ था मगर उस जैसा जालिम भी शायद ही कोई हो. गांव भर उसके नाम से कांपता था. न आदमी पर तरस खाए न जानवर पर. एक दिन रामू लुहार के बच्चे ने उसके बैल की दुम में कांटे बांध दिए थे तो मारते-मारते उसको अधमरा कर दिया. अगले दिन जेलदार की घोड़ी उसके खेत में घुस आई तो लाठी लेकर इतना मारा कि लहूलुहान कर दिया.

 

लोग कहते थे कि कम्बख्त को ख़ुदा का खौफ भी तो नहीं है. मासूम बच्चों और बेजबान जानवरों तक को माफ नहीं करता. ये जरूर जहन्नुम में जलेगा. मगर ये सब उसकी पीठ के पीछे कहा जाता था. सामने किसी की हिम्मत जबान हिलाने की न होती थी.

एक दिन बुंदू की जो शामत आई तो उसने कह दिया, “अरे भई रहीम ख़ाँ तू क्यों बच्चों को मारता है?” बस उस गरीब की वो दुर्गत बनाई कि उस दिन से लोगों ने बात भी करनी छोड़ दी कि नामालूम नहीं किस बात पर बिगड़ पड़े? बाज़ का खयाल था कि उसका दिमाग खराब हो गया है, उसको पागलखाने भेजना चाहिए.

 

कोई कहता था, अब के किसी को मारे तो थाने में रिपोर्ट लिखवा दो. मगर किसी की मजाल कि उसके खिलाफ गवाही देकर उससे दुश्मनी मोल लेता.

 

गांव भर ने उससे बात करनी छोड़ दी. मगर उस पर कोई असर न हुआ. सुबह-सवेरे वो हल कांधे पर धरे अपने खेत की तरफ जाता दिखाई देता था. रास्ते में किसी से न बोलता. खेत में जा कर बैलों से आदमियों की तरह बातें करता. उसने दोनों के नाम रखे हुए थे.

 

एक को कहता था नत्थू, दूसरे को छद्दू. हल चलाते हुए बोलता जाता, “क्यूं बे नत्थू तू सीधा नहीं चलता. ये खेत आज तेरा बाप पूरे करेगा?” और “अबे छद्दू तेरी भी शामत आई है क्या?” और फिर इन गरीबों की शामत आ ही जाती. सूत की रस्सी की मार. दोनों बैलों की कमर पर जख़्म पड़ गए थे.

 

शाम को घर आता तो वहां अपने बीवी-बच्चों पर गुस्सा उतारता. दाल या साग में नमक है, बीवी को उधेड़ डाला. कोई बच्चा शरारत कर रहा है, उसको उल्टा लटकाकर बैलों वाली रस्सी से मारते-मारते बेहोश कर दिया. गर्ज हर-रोज एक आफत मची रहती थी.

 

आस-पास के झोंपड़े वाले रोज रात को रहीम ख़ाँ की गालियां, उसकी बीवी और बच्चों के मार खाने और रोने की आवाज़ सुनते, मगर बेचारे क्या कर सकते थे. अगर कोई मना करने जाए तो वो भी मार खाए.

 

मार खाते-खाते बीवी गरीब तो अधमरी हो गई थी. चालीस बर्ष की उम्र में साठ साल की मालूम होती थी. बच्चे जब छोटे-छोटे थे तो पिटते रहे. बड़ा जब बारह बर्ष का हुआ तो एक दिन मार खाकर जो भागा तो फिर वापस न लौटा.

करीब के गांव में एक रिश्ते का चाचा रहता था. उसने अपने पास रख लिया. बीवी ने एक दिन डरते-डरते कहा, “हलासपुर की तरफ जाओ जरा नूरू को लेते आना.” बस फिर क्या था आग बगूला हो गया- “मैं उस बदमाश को लेने जाऊं. अब वो खुद भी आया तो टांगें चीर कर फेंक दूंगा.”

 

वह बदमाश क्यों मौत के मुंह में वापस आने लगा था. दो साल के बाद छोटा बेटा बुंदू भी भाग गया और भाई के पास रहने लगा. रहीम ख़ाँ को गुस्सा उतारने के लिए फकत बीवी रह गई थी सो वो गरीब इतनी पिट चुकी थी कि अब आदी हो चली थी. मगर एक दिन उसको इतना मारा कि उससे भी न रहा गया.

 

और मौक़ा पाकर, जब रहीम ख़ाँ खेत पर गया हुआ था, वह अपने भाई को बुला कर उसके साथ अपनी मां के यहां चली गई. पड़ोसी की औरत से कह गई कि आए तो कह देना कि मैं कुछ रोज़ के लिए अपनी मां के पास रामनगर जा रही हूं.

 

शाम को रहीम ख़ाँ बैलों को लिए वापस आया तो पड़ोसिन ने डरते-डरते बताया कि उसकी बीवी अपनी मां के यहां चंद रोज़ के लिए गयी है. रहीम ख़ाँ ने स्वभाव के विपरीत खामोशी से बात सुनी और बैल बांधने चला गया. उसको यकीन था कि उसकी बीवी अब कभी न आएगी.

 

अहाते में बैल बांध कर झोंपड़े के अंदर गया तो एक बिल्ली म्याऊं-म्याऊं कर रही थी. कोई और नजर न आया तो उसकी ही दुम पकड़ कर दरवाज़े से बाहर फेंक दिया. चूल्हे को जा कर देखा तो ठंडा पड़ा हुआ था. आग जला कर रोटी कौन डालता. बगैर कुछ खाए-पिए ही पड़ कर सो गया.

 

अगले दिन रहीम ख़ाँ जब सोकर उठा तो दिन चढ़ चुका था. लेकिन आज उसे खेत पर जाने की जल्दी न थी. बकरियों का दूध दुहकर पिया और हुक्का भर कर पलंग पर बैठ गया. अब झोंपड़े में धूप भर आई थी. एक कोने में देखा तो जाले लगे हुए थे.

 

सोचा कि लाओ सफाई ही कर डालूं. एक बांस में कपड़ा बांध कर जाले उतार रहा था कि खपरैल में अबाबीलों का एक घोंसला नजर आया. दो अबाबीलें कभी अंदर जाती थीं कभी बाहर आती थीं. पहले उसने इरादा किया कि बांस से घोंसला तोड़ डाले.

 

फिर मालूम नहीं क्या सोचा, घड़ौंची लाकर उस पर चढ़ा और घोंसले में झांककर देखा. अंदर देखा, दो लाल बोटी-से बच्चे चूं-चूं कर रहे थे. और उनके मां-बाप अपनी औलाद की हिफाजत के लिए उसके सर पर मंडरा रहे थे. घोंसले की तरफ उसने हाथ बढ़ाया ही था कि मादा अबाबील अपनी चोंच से उस पर हमलावर हुई.

 

“अरी, आंख फोड़ेगी क्या?” उसने अपना खौफनाक कहकहा मारते हुए कहा और घड़ौंची पर से उतर आया. अबाबीलों का घोंसला सलामत रहा.

 

अगले दिन से उसने फिर खेत पर जाना शुरू कर दिया. गांववालों में से अब भी कोई उससे बात न करता था. दिन-भर हल चलाता, पानी देता और खेती काटता. लेकिन शाम को सूरज छिपने से कुछ पहले ही घर आ जाता.

 

हुक्का भर कर पलंग के पास लेटकर अबाबील के घोंसले की तरफ देखता रहता. अब दोनों बच्चे भी उड़ने के काबिल हो गए थे.

 

उसने उन दोनों के नाम अपने बच्चों के नाम पर नूरू और बुंदू रख दिए थे. अब दुनिया में उसके दोस्त ये चार अबाबील ही रह गए थे. लेकिन गांववालों को ये हैरत जरूर थी कि मुद्दत से किसी ने उसको अपने बैलों को मारते न देखा था. नत्थू और छिद्दू भी खुश थे. उनकी पीठों पर से घावों के निशान भी लगभग समाप्तप्राय हो गए थे.

रहीम ख़ाँ एक दिन खेत से जरा सवेरे चला आ रहा था कि चंद बच्चे सड़क पर कंडी खेलते हुए मिले. उसको देखना था कि सब अपने जूते छोड़कर भाग गए. वो कहता ही रहा- “अरे मैं कोई मारता थोड़ा ही हूं.”

 

आसमान पर बादल छाए हुए थे. जल्दी -जल्दी बैलों को हांकता हुआ घर लाया. उनको बांधा ही था कि बादल जोर से गरजा और और बारिश शुरू हो गई.

अंदर आ कर किवाड़ बंद किए और चिराग जला कर उजाला किया. रोज की तरह बासी रोटी के टुकड़े करके अबाबीलों के घोंसले के करीब एक ताक में डाल दिए. “अरे ओ बुंदू. अरे ओ नूरू.” उसने पुकारा मगर वे न निकले. घोंसले में जो झांका तो चारों अपने परों में सिर दिए सहमे बैठे थे.

 

ठीक उसी जगह जहां छत में घोंसला था वहां एक सूराख था और बारिश का पानी टपक रहा था. “अगर कुछ देर ये पानी इस तरह ही आता रहा तो घोंसला तबाह हो जाएगा और अबाबीलें बेचारे बेघर हो जाएंगे”- ये सोच कर उसने किवाड़ खोले और मूसलाधार बारिश में सीढ़ी लगा कर छत पर चढ़ गया.

जब तक मिट्टी डालकर सूराख को बंद करके वह नीचे उतरा तो, पानी से बुरी तरह भीग चुका था. पलंग पर जा कर बैठा तो कई छींकें आईं. मगर उसने परवाह न की और गीले कपड़ों को निचोड़ चादर और चादर ओढ़कर सो गया.

 

अगले दिन सुबह को उठा तो पूरे शरीर में दर्द और तेज ज्वर था. कौन हाल पूछता और कौन दवा लाता? दो दिन उसी हालत में पड़ा रहा.

 

जब दो दिन किसी ने उसे खेत पर जाते हुए नहीं देखा तो गांववालो को चिंता हुई. कालू जेलदार और कई किसान शाम को उसके झोंपड़े में देखने आए. झांककर देखा तो पलंग पर पड़ा आप ही आप बातें कर रहा था, “अरे बुंदू. अरे नूरू कहां मर गए? आज तुम्हें कौन खाना देगा.” चंद अबाबीलें कमरे में फड़फड़ा रही थीं.

 

“बेचारा पागल हो गया है.” कालू जेलदार ने सिर हिलाकर कहा- “सुबह को अस्पताल वालों को खबर कर देंगे कि इसे पागलखाने भिजवा दें.”

 

अगले दिन सुबह को जब उसके पड़ोसी अस्पताल वालों को लेकर आए और उसके झोंपड़े का दरवाजा खोला तो वह मर चुका था. उसकी पायंती चार अबाबीलें सर झुकाए खामोश बैठी थीं.

The End

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