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Abida Sultan

1913 – 2002

Heiress to the Bhopal throne

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About Abida Sultan

Lived 1913 – 2002 (aged 88). Abida Sultan was a Pakistani politician and diplomat.

Princess Suraya Jah, Nawab Gowhar-i-Taj (born Abida Sultan Begum Sahiba; 28 August 1913 – 11 May 2002), also known as Abida Sultaan, was the eldest daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of the Bhopal state, and his wife Begum Maimoona Sultan.

Early life and royal family Bhopal royal family. L to R: Nawab Hamidullah Khan, his wife Maimoona Sultan, their daughters – Rabia Sultan, Abida Sultan, Sajida Sultan, in London, 1932 Abida Sultan Begum Sahiba (begum being a Muslim woman of high rank the daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the Nawab of Bhopal and Begum Maimoona Sultan. She was the eldest of three children; she had two younger sisters Sajida Sultan and Rabia Sultan.

In Pakistan, she joined the foreign service; the government of India responded by excluding her from the line of succession. Her younger sister Sajida succeeded her instead upon her father's death in 1960, despite Abida Sultan contesting the succession in court.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Abida Sultaan

Family & relationships

Child
Shahryar Khan
Parent
Hamidullah Khan

People in Abida Sultan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Abida Sultan's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Abida Sultan?

Heiress to the Bhopal throne (1913-2002)

When was Abida Sultan born?

Abida Sultan was born on 28 August 1913 in Bhopal, Bhopal State.

When did Abida Sultan die?

Abida Sultan died on 11 May 2002 in Karachi, Sindh.

What was Abida Sultan's occupation?

Abida Sultan was a politician and diplomat.

What nationality was Abida Sultan?

Abida Sultan was Pakistani.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Abida Sultan

· Wikidata: Q3695150

· DBpedia: Abida Sultan

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Abida Sultan. https://biography.guide/abida-sultan/

MLA: "Abida Sultan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/abida-sultan/.

Chicago: "Abida Sultan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/abida-sultan/.

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