Famous Personalities of Malerkotla-Saeed Jaffrey

Saeed Jaffrey was born in Maler Kotla, Punjab, India. He was born on the 8th of January 1929. He attended University of Allahabad where he completed his post-graduate degree in history. He also attended the Staff Training Institute of All India Radio. He started his career in drama, as the founder of his own English theatre company called the Unity Theatre, in New Delhi between 1951 and 1956. He also served with All India Radio as Radio Director during this period. He played a wide variety of roles in comedy and drama with equal ease and enthusiasm. His early theatrical work included roles in productions of Tennessee Williams, Fry, Priesty, Wilde, and Shakespeare. In 1956, he finished his studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, a premier school of drama. He went to the United States on a Fulbright scholarship and took a second post-graduate degree in drama from the Catholic University in America. With this experience as his base, he took his company on a tour of the United States doing Shakespearean plays in the year 1957. He was the first Indian Actor to have ever done so. He then became an active member of the Actors' Studio in New York. Here, he was noted for his acting in the play "Nights" and his role as the "Nawab" in Granada Television's adaptation of "The Jewel in the Crown". He married Madhur, actress and cookery writer, with whom he has had three children. He is now divorced from her.

In the 1960s he made numerous stage appearances and participated in a number of tours. He also started his U.S. television career in these years. He was the director of publicity and advertising for the Government of India in their Tourist Office in the U.S. from 1958 to 1960. His performance in the BBC classic _Gangsters (1975) (TV)_, as "Rafiq" earned him countrywide recognition in the United Kingdom. This was even though he had acted in Theatres and appeared on television previously in the U.K. During this period he acted in the off-Broadway play "A Tenth of an Inch Make The Difference" written and directed by Rolf Forsberg, who later cast Saeed Jaffrey and his wife Madhur in the noted short films, "Parable" in 1964, and "Stalked", starring Jack Hawkins, in 1968. Mr. Jaffrey began his feature film career acting in the movie The Guru (1969), and since then has made numerous film appearances along with Hollywood stars such as Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan etc. He has, since then, worked with directors of high caliber such as Satyajit Ray, James Ivory, David Lean and Richard Attenborough. He is a member of the Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He is known over the world for his impeccable English accent, his dapper style and his catch phrase "My dear boy". They form part of an acting persona that audiences have always found enchanting. He uses his smooth charm to good effect whether he is playing the archetypal oily, corrupt businessman or the kindly, knowing, father like figure. He is the first Asian to have received British and Canadian Academy Award nominations for acting, and is the first ever to be awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to drama.

Lt.Col. HH Nawab Sir Muhammad Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur of Malerkotla (1881-1947)

Lt.Col. HH Nawab Sir Muhammad Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur of Malerkotla (1881-1947)

Lt.Col. HH Nawab Sir MUHAMMED AHMAD ALI KHAN Bahadur K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., Nawab of Malerkotla 1908/1947, K.C.S.I. [cr. xx.6.1915], K.C.I.E. [cr.1921], born 10th September 1881 and succeeded 23rd August 1908 (#3), he was formally installed with full ruling powers on 5th January 1909; he was appointed Honorary Major in the Indian Army in 1916; his salute of 11 guns included 2 guns as a personal distinction, which were made permanent in 1917; Lieutenant Colonel (Indian Army).

1908 - 1947 Lieutenant-Colonel H.H. Nawab Sir Muhammad Ahmad 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Malerkotla, KCSI (3.6.1915), KCIE (1.1.1921). born 10th September 1881, second but eldest surviving son of H.H. Nawab Muhammad Ibrahim 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Malerkotla, educ. Aitchison Coll., Lahore. Superintendent of the state administration 1st January 1903-1905, Regent from 1st February 1905 until his accession. Succeeded on the death of his father, 23rd August 1908. Ascended the musnaid 24th September 1908. Installed by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, in person, at the Sheesh Mahal Palace, Malekotla, 5th January 1909. Hon. Maj. IA 14/6/1916, prom. Hon. Lieut-Col. 31/12/1919. Signed the instrument of accession to the Dominion of India, September 1947. Rcvd: Delhi Durbar medals (1903 and 1911), Silver Jubilee (1935), and Coron. (1937) medals. m. (first) a daughter of Khan Sahib Muhammad Inayat 'Ali Khan. m. (second) 1903, H.H. Nawab ... Begum Sahiba (d. 1968), a cousin of Major-General H.H. 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i-Daulat-i- Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Syed Sir Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur, GCIE, KCSI, and daughter of Sahibzada ... Khan, of Rampur, by his wife, a daughter of H.H. Wazir ul-Mulk, Yamin ud-Daula, Nawab Hafiz Muhammad 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Saulat Jang, Nawab of Tonk. m. (third) H.H. Nawab Murtaza Begum Sahiba, elder daughter of Anwar Khan, of the Malerkotla family. m. (fourth) H.H. Nawab Ruquiya Begum Sahiba, younger daughter of Anwar Khan, of the Malerkotla family. He died on 16th October 1947 (buried in Shahi Muqbara, Malerkotla), having six sons and four daughters: (1) H.H. Nawab Muhammad Iftikhar 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Malerkotla (2) Sahibzada Mehdi 'Ali Khan Bahadur. born at Malerkotla, 1905. (3) Captain Sahibzada Mumtaz 'Ali Khan Bahadur. born at Malerkotla, 1906, education privately. Assist. Recruiting Officer for the Punjab 1944-1945. married a lady three times, and divorced her twice. (4) Sahibzada Khurshid 'Ali Khan Bahadur. He died at Malerkotla, 1917. (5) H.H. Nawab Muhammad Altaf 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Malerkotla (6) Sahibzada Amjad 'Ali Khan Bahadur. (1) Sahibzadi Mahmood Begum (2) the second daughter. m. at Mussoorie, Sahibzada Raza Husain Khan (3) H.H. Nawab Shaukat Begum Sahiba. (4) Sahibzadi Fakhri Begum.

Nawab Sher Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Sher Jang, Nawab of Malerkotla State 1672 to 1712

Nawab Sher Moh'd Ali Khan of Malerkotla 1672 to 1712

1672 - 1712 Nawab Sher Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Sher Jang, Nawab of Malerkotla born at Fort Kotla, 1640, elder son of Nawab Firoz Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla, education privately. Succeeded on the death of his father, 1672. Granted the titles of Bahadur and Sher Jang, and a Sword of Honour, by the Emperor. Held in near veneration by the Sikhs because he appealed to Aurangzeb to spare the lives of Guru Gobind Singh's two young sons, when captured at Sirhind. He declared that their execution contravened the dictates of Islam and the laws laid-down by the Prophet. According to the Mahan Kosh, when told that the Nawab of Malerkotla had raised his voice, the Guru blessed the house of the nawab, declaring that its "roots shall remain forever green." He died at Maler Kotla,in 1712 (buried there at the Shahi Muqbara), having eight sons: 1) Nawab Ghulam Husain Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla. 2) Sahibzada Mirza Khan. 3) Sahibzada Muhammad Azim Khan. 4) Nawab Jamal Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla 5) Sahibzada Fateh 'Ali Khan. 6) Sahibzada Akbar 'Ali Khan. 7) Sahibzada Ghulam 'Ali Khan. 8) Sahibzada Ghulam Rasul Khan. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The roots of communal harmony in the area date back to 1705, when Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, 9 and 7 year old sons of 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, were ordered to be bricked alive by the governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan. His close relative, Sher Mohammed Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla, who was present in the court, lodged vehement protest against this inhuman act and said it was against Islam. Wazir Khan nevertheless had the Sahibzadas tortured and bricked into a section of wall while still alive. At this the Nawab of Malerkotla walked out of the court in protest. Guru Gobind Singh on learning this kind and humanitarian approach profusely thanked the Nawab of Malerkotla and blessed him with his Hukamnama, Kirpan etc. In recognition of this act, the State of Malerkotla did not witness a single incident of violence during partition. " Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan's historical Plea "

The two younger Shahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh who were 7 and 9 years old and the Guru's mother were arrested by Nawab Wazir Khan of Sirhind. Wazir Khan was informed about their whereabouts by Gangu who had been a cook at the Guru's house for many years. Wazir Khan gave the two children a choice: Either give up the Sikh Faith or Die. True to the spirit of their grandfather Guru Tegh Bahadur and their father Guru Gobind Singh, the love for the Sikh faith was so strong that the young children chose death. Mata Gujri ji, the Guru's mother, was informed about her grandchildrens fate in the prison where she died. Wazir Khan decided to brick the children alive. Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan of Malerkotla State tried to stop Wazir Khan from commiting such a heinous crime. Unfortunately his efforts failed. It is said that when Guru Gobind Singh came to know about the fate of his younger sons he uprooted a shrub with his arrow and declared that the tyrannical reign of Wazir Khan would be put to any end. This prophecy came true when the Sikh forces under the command of Banda Singh Bahadur, after a fierce fight, defeated the forces of Wazir Khan. One event of this battle was a command given by Banda Singh Bahadur to the Sikh forces not to destroy a mosque because like a Gurudwara and a temple it too was a place of worship. Guru Gobind Singh also ordered the Sikhs to always help and support the people of Malerkotla and prevent any calamity from befalling them. A promise that the Sikh community has fulfilled so far. The following is the English translation of the letter of appeal written by Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan to Emperor Aurangzeb to stop Wazir Khan from bricking the children alive. Both this translation and the photocopy were published in the Sikh Review. **************************************************************************************** ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF AN APPEAL IN PERSIAN By NAWAB SHER MOHAMMAD KHAN OF MALERKOTLA STATE Presented to THE IMPERIAL MAJESTY MOHIUD-DIN AURANGZEB ALMGIR EMPEROR OF INDIA, 1705 AD O mighty king of the world who, on account of justice has placed thy throne on the Azure Vault; may the dappled horse of the skies be ever under thy control because thou hast eclipsed the brilliance of the Sun and Moon by the splendour of thy innumerable victories. The humble and devoted petitioner, with all respect due to the grandeur of the Shadow of God and to the might of the saviour of the world, most respectfully begs to lay his humble appeal before Your Most Gracious Majesty, and hopes from Your Imperial Majesty's unfathomable kindness and illimitable magnanimity that the August person of the Shadow of God, viceregent of the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him) in this world, the incarnation of God's mercy over his creatures, by sheer munificence, be pleased to bestow his compassion and forgiveness on the young sons of Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of the Sikh Nation. The Viceroy of Sirhind Province, with a view to avenging the disobedience and disloyal activities of the Guru which might have been committed by him, has, without any fault or crime of the guiltless or innocent children simply on the basis of their being the scions of Guru Gobind Singh, condemned these minor sons liable to execution and has proposed to wall them up alive till they die. Although no one dares to raise an objection against the order of the Viceroy whose order is as inevitable as death, yet the faithful servants and well wishers of your August Majesty's Empire deem it most advisable to humbly appeal and to bring to Your Majesty's benign notice. May it be said that if, in view of certain important political considerations, Your Majesty is disposed to inflict suitable punishment on the Sikh Nation for their undesirable activities in the past, it would be quite compatible with justice, but Your Majesty's humble and devoted servant thinks that it would, in no way, be consistent with the principles of sovereignity and supreme power to wreak vengeance of the misdeeds of a whole nation on two innocent children who, on account of their tender age, are quite innocent and unable to take a stand against the all-powerful Viceroy. This sort of action obviously appears to be against the dictates of Islam and the laws propounded by the Founder of Islam (may God's blessings be showered on him) and Your Majesty's humble servant is afraid that the enactment of such an atrocious act would perpetually remain an ugly blot on the face of Your Majesty's renowed justice and righteousness. It may graciously be considered that the mode of inflicting the punishment and torture as contemplated by the Viceroy of Sirhind can by no means be considered compatible with the principles of supreme rule, equity and justice. In view of the above considerations Your Majesty's humble and devoted servant most respectfully takes the liberty of suggesting that if Your Majesty considers it expedient, that the sons of Guru Gobind Singh may be kept under restraint from indulging in disloyal activities it would be more appropriate if they could be interned in the Royal capital at Delhi, till they are duly reformed, so as to willingly acknowledge allegiance and loyalty to the throne. In the alternative both the boys may be placed under my care so as to keep a check on their actions and movements and not to allow them to entertain any kind of ideas of sedition or disloyalty in their minds. Although the humble petitioner fears that this humble appeal which is prompted exclusively by the sense of veracity and loyality to the throne may be deemed as transgressing the limits of propriety, yet the fear of God and the urge of faith does not allow the suppression of truth. If this humble appeal has the honour of meeting the Royal acceptance it shall be most fortunate. If, however, unfortunately it is deprived of the honour of acceptance, still Your Majesty's humble and devoted servant shall have the consolation of having performed the sacred duty of expressing what was right and just and not having allowed his pen to deviate in the expression of truth. (Signed) Sher Mohammad Khan Nawab of Malerkotla State ************************************************************************************

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