Bhopal

The Feudatory State of Bhopal

1947-1949

Coat_of_arms_of_State_of_Bahawalpur.svg
  • Area: 45,911 sq km
  • Stamps issued: 1947-1949
  • Emission: Commemorative
  • Design: Lithography
Central_India_Agency_Map

Bhopal was a large Princely state of Central India and formed the core of the Bhopal Agency. It was one of the first princely states in India to issue their postage stamps, dating back to 1872.

Dost Mohammad Khan founded the state of Bhopal in 1707 CE when he decided to break away from the weakened Mughal empire and chart a path of his own. His son ruled the state for some years but met with an untimely death, leaving two young sons. Their mother Mamola Bai became the regent in 1754, ruling the state from behind the purdah. Her reign lasted till 1794, having outlived both the sons. 

A dispute over succession arose and some members of the royal family rose in rebellion. The rebellion was crushed and they were exiled, only to be pardoned later and returned to the kingdom. New matrimonial alliances were forged to strengthen the state. However, when the new Regent, Naser al-Dowla tried to ally with the British, he was assaisnated. 

In the political chaos that ensued, Qudsia Begum, the widow of the slain regent staked claim to rule on behalf of her minor daughter Sikandar. Qudsia Begum succeeded, threw off her purdah and ruled from the front, even commanding armies in battles. She constructed railways, expanded public work, built mosques and was known for her astute nature. 

With time, Qudsia Begum’s daughter Sikandar Begum came of age and was married to one of her cousins. The marriage, however, did not last long. The couple did not get along and the husband died at the young age of 26. 

On 9th December 1844, Sultan Shah Jahan Begum, the daughter of Sikandar Begum, ascended to the throne. Sikandar and an uncle became her regents. Shah Jahan Begum furthered the progressive ideas of her forerunners and focussed on education and administrative reforms. 

Bhopal had allied with the British in 1818, and in 1855, it was allowed to be directly ruled by women. Shah Jahan Begum was a lover of arts and culture and ushered in a cultural revolution in her state, where arts and literature flourished. She was succeeded by her daughter Sultan Jahan Begum in 1901 who championed women’s rights and education. In 1926, Sultan Jahan Begum passed the state over to her son, thus ending over 100 years of matrilineial rule of Bhopal.

After the independence of India, the Nawab of Bhopal was initially unwilling to merge with India and sought independence. However, seeing that it was untenable, the state joined India in 1949. The daughter of the last Nawab, however, relinquished her rights and migrated to Pakistan. 

Stamps of Bhopal

Nawab Shah Jahan Begum (r. 1868-1901) issued the first stamps of Bhopal in 1872. Between 1872 and 1908, the stamps of Bhopal came in mainly two patterns. The first pattern issued between 1872 and 1896 carried two concentric octagons, in the centre of which was the Begum’s Tughra embossed. Between  the two octagons was inscribed the name H H SHAH JAHAN BEGUM in English with the denomination at the bottom arm. The embossing was done with the Begum’s personal seal.

The second stamp design carried the oval Tughra of Shah Jahan Begum. The tughra was enclosed in an oval with the name of the Begum enclosing from all directions except the bottom where the denomination was printed. The characters B L C I (Bhopal, Central India) were placed at four corners. The tughra was lithographed as the rest of the stamp and not embossed. 

Wide variations in spellings and perforations are common in the Bhopal stamps. Pin perforations of varying sizes are present. 

Bhopal_Train

Bhopal State Cavalry waiting for the arrival of the first train at Bhopal Railway Station, 1882. 

Double Lined Frame

1876

 

Single Lined Frame

1877

 

Dhar_Stamp_1897_Quarter_Anna

Sg:IN-BH-1

¼ A. Black. Imperf

Dhar_1897_Half_Anna

Sg:IN-BH-2

½ A . Red. Imperf

Dhar_One _Anna_1897

Sg:IN-BH-3

¼ A. Black. Imperf

Sg:IN-BH-4

½ A . Red. Imperf

Inscribed EEGAM instead of BEGAM

1878

 

Dhar_Half_Paisa_1897

Sg:IN-BH 5

¼ A. Black. Imperf

Face Value With Brackets. Horizontal Corner Lines

1878-1879

 

Dhar_Stamp_1897_Quarter_Anna

Sg:IN-BH-6

¼ A. Blue green. Imperf
1878

Dhar_1897_Half_Anna

Sg:IN-BH-7

¼ A. Blue green. Perf rough
1878

Dhar_One _Anna_1897

Sg:IN-BH-8

½ A. Red. Imperf
1879

Face Value Without Brackets. Horizontal Corner Lines

1878-1880

 

Dhar_Stamp_1897_Quarter_Anna

Sg:IN-BH-9

½ A. Brown. Imperf
1878

Dhar_1897_Half_Anna

Sg:IN-BH-10

¼ A . Blue green. Imperf
1878

Dhar_One _Anna_1897

Sg:IN-BH-11

½ A. Brown red. Imperf
1879

Dhar_Stamp_1897_Quarter_Anna

Sg:IN-BH-12

¼ A . Blue green. Perf rough
1878

Dhar_1897_Half_Anna

Sg:IN-BH-13

½ A . Brown red. Perf rough
1880

All stamp images and content © PhilatelyLife