Time never remains the same. And, the shocking stories of these Royal families confirm this ultimate truth. Before we gained independence, India was home to several kingdoms, which were ruled by immensely wealthy royal families. But, with time, their power, fame, and wealth all faded away. And, the descendants of royal families had no other choice but to live like common man. Here are some such stories of royal families who lost everything with time:
1. Descendants of Tipu Sultan, the “Tiger of Mysore”
After Tipu Sultan’s demise, the British shifted them to Kolkata and made sure they did not return to the south. When the East India Company took possession of the jewelry of Tipu Sultan’s eldest daughter, Fatima Begum, it needed six bullocks to carry it.
Today, her descendants live in hutments in Kolkata. Sahebzada Syed Mansoor Ali, who is married to Tipu’s great-great-granddaughter, Sahebzadi Raheemunnisa, has been campaigning to get financial help for Sultan’s family members. Unfortunately, most of Tipu Sultan’s successors are allegedly doing jobs like pulling rickshaws, repairing cycles, or working as electricians or tailors.
2. Descendants of the Travancore Royal Family
When it joined the Indian republic after independence, Travancore was the second-richest kingdom in India, behind Hyderabad. After Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the final princely king of Travancore passed away, his younger brother Utharadom Tirunal Marthanda Varma took over as the head of the royal family. Marthanda Varma and his family led a very humble life. Unfortunately, he died in 2018.
As per sources, he served as the Chairman of the Trust overseeing the renowned Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which gained fame in 2011 after 90,000 crores of rupees worth of jewelry were found in its vault. At that time, Varma had claimed that the wealth had been hidden away in vaults for centuries and that the royal family was aware of it. As per sources, he felt that it was the wealth of Lord Padmanabha, and the royal family never ever felt any interest in it.
3. Raja Brajraj Kshatriya Chamupati Singh Mohapatra of Tigiria
The Raja of Tigiria was formerly regarded as the playboy prince of colonial India. When he wasn’t busy racing one of his 25 vintage cars, he would be living in a humungous palace, pursuing big games, and traveling by elephant.
As per sources, he was given an annual income of Rs. 11,200 by the state after his kingdom was combined into the Indian republic in 1947. This income replaced his state’s tax revenues that he used to previously receive. Because of a lack of money, he had to sell his palace, which was later converted into a girls’ high school.
He later lost his yearly stipend when the Indira Gandhi administration eliminated the final royal privileges. At that time, he was left at the mercy of the local villagers until his death in 2015. He was living apart from his family in a mud hut in a destitute condition. His wife, Rasmanajari Devi, an MLA, and three sons are left behind.
4. Descendants of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the last king of Awadh
Dr. Kaukab Quder Meerza, the great-grandson of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, had resided in another home in one of Kolkata’s back alleys. Due to a COVID-19 infection, he passed away in September 2020. Meerza, a former professor at the Aligarh Muslim University, is survived by Mamlikat Badr, a member of the illustrious Shia cleric family of Lucknow, and their six children.
5. Descendants of Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad
The Nizam was the richest Indian of all time and ranked sixth in the world in 2012 with a net worth of $236 billion, or $17,49,807,600 (inflation-adjusted). Apparently, he had 16 daughters and 18 boys. Prince Mukarram Jah succeeded Mir Osman Ali Khan as the eighth Nizam of Hyderabad in 1967. As per sources, he is currently living in Turkey.
According to recent sources, over 120 of the last Nizam of Hyderabad’s descendants are presently engaged in a court battle to reclaim their rightful portion of the 36 million pounds that were put in a London bank seven decades earlier.
6. Sultana Begum, the spouse of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s great-grandson
Today, Sultana Begum, the late Prince Mirza Bedar Bukht’s wife and the great-granddaughter of Bahadur Shah Zafar, resides in a two-room home in Kolkata, West Bengal. According to reports, she operated a tea shop prior to receiving a 6,000-rupee pension each month. Several advocates have highlighted her suffering. Sultana is a lower-middle-class woman who has five daughters and one son.
These tales are just a reminder that time never remains the same. What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
