Remembering Nawab Sadiq Mohammad Khan V of Bahawalpur

Despite the big offers from India, the Nawab of Bahawalpur decided to remain with Pakistan

BAHAWALPUR:

Nawab Sadiq Mohammad Khan V was a great reformer and benefactor for the region. He rejected lucrative offers from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru when he visited his residence in the County of Surrey, London.

The offers included a blank cheque, restoration of his personnel properties in Bombay, Delhi and Palan Pur (Kangrra Valley), and unlimited water for irrigation of greater Cholistan from Bhakrra Dam in return for the annexation of his state with India of instead Pakistan.

Despite these big offers, Nawab Sadiq who was very patriotic, refused.

Nawab Sadiq Ali Khan V of Bahawalpur was a graceful benefactor and sacrificed his precious wealth for the support of his friend Quaid-e-Azam. He is known as generous a benefactor of Pakistan who donated Rs700 million when Pakistan came into existence and also provided his one-month salary. He also paid salaries of all government departments of Pakistan from the state treasury of Bahawalpur.

Read ‘Country owes a debt to Nawab of Bahawalpur’

From dialogues with the then Indian prime minister Nehru regarding state decisions associated with Pakistan, Nawab Sadiq Ali Khan created the destiny of Pakistan. On 24 March 1924, his coronation in Noor Mahel was a start of change not only for Bahawalpur but for the whole nation.

Nawab of Bahawalpur Sadiq Mohammad Khan V was a simple and self-made personality. During his stay in London, one day he went on a walk in a simple dress. There he saw a car showroom of internationally famed Rolls-Royce. He liked the cars and tried to enter the showroom to inquire about the prices. However, he was stopped by the guard and was not allowed to enter and said that “these cars are not in your access”.

Nawab Sadiq returned to his hotel after this incident. Later on, he came again with his full royal protocol and a contingent of servants. He purchased all six Rolls Royce cars present in the showroom. After purchasing these cars, he ordered his servants that these cars should be sent to Bahawalpur and handed over to the municipality.

He also ordered that the municipality should start cleaning and lifting garbage from these cars. When Rolls-Royce Care started lifting garbage in Bahawalpur, the news spread all over the world as wildfire. Due to this, the prices of Rolls-Royce cars started falling all over the world, and the image of the automobile brand was also damaged massively.

The situation worsened for the company, as a result, the owner of Rolls-Royce reached Bahawalpur and apologized to Nawab Sadiq Mohammad Khan V. He gave him a written apology and requested not to use Rolls-Royce for lifting garbage.

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Nawab Sadiq accepted their apology and ordered to remove Rolls-Royce cars for the work of garbage lifting. The owner of the company also gifted six cars to the Nawab of Bahawalpur. Nawab Sadiq gifted one of these six cars the to Saudi King who visited Pakistan. It was the first Rolls-Royce car that ran on the roads of Saudi Arabia.

Contribution to the field of education

Nawab Sadiq was the pioneer of education and literacy. A year after his coronation, he established Madrasa Sadr Diniyat (for religious education) and established the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, formerly known as Jamia Abbasiya, on the model of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University.

He also presided over various convocations and donated generously to educational institutions like Aligarh Muslim University and Delhi Medical College. He also served massively for the cultural heritage of Bahawalpur. Under his leadership, the collection of saint and poet Hazrat Khwaja Ghulam Fareed was published with the name of “Deewan e Fareed”.

He also established Sadiq Reading Library and during his rule, Bahawalpur saw massive development in the medical field also. Bahawal Victoria Hospital expanded in his government and a network of hospitals and dispensaries was also established all over the area where patients were provided with free meal and treatment.

In 1935, there was a disastrous earthquake that jolted Quetta in which thousands of people lost their lives. Injured and survivors were sent to Lahore by train on a daily basis.

That train reached Bahawalpur in the afternoon, Nawab Sadiq ordered arrangements of food, clothes, and financial help for the earthquake victims. He also visited the railway station on a daily basis to check the arrangements.

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Services for Islam

Similarly, he also worked in religious affairs. Nawab Sadiq performed Hajj in 1935, during his stay in Madina, he installed precious chandeliers in the Masjid-e-Nabvi. Jamia Mosque Al Sadiq which is the fourth largest mosque in Pakistan is the proof of his great services for the religion.

Despite the big offers from India, Nawab Sadiq decided to remain with Pakistan. He also donated generously for the rehabilitation of migrants. Due to this, national leaders appreciated him. The merger of Bahawalpur State in Pakistan was a big development for the region. His services for Bahawalpur and the region will not be forgotten and they will remain in history in prominent words. He devoted his life for the betterment of his people and country.

Today, we are remembering Nawab Sadiq Mohammad Khan V on his death anniversary. He was great reformer and loyal of Pakistan. His heritage is a milestone for the generations.