India remembers freedom fighter Begum Hazrat Mahal

Kathmandu, April 18

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Begum Hazrat Mahal, an icon of the 1857 rebellion who fought against the British East India Company, was remembered on Wednesday, with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri laying a wreath on the freedom fighter’s tomb.

She was the wife of ruler of Awadh Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.

The tomb is situated on the premises of Jame Masjid in the heart of Nepal’s capital.

A function was organised at the tomb which was attended by a number of people from the country’s Muslim community and officials from Indian Embassy here.

Puri highlighted the time of the 1857 struggle for independence and thanked Nepal for lending a hand at the time.

Begam had fought against the British colonial rule in the 1857 rebellion. The British had attacked Awadh repeatedly and forced her to retreat. She refused to accept any kind of favours and allowances offered by the British rulers.

Finally, she sought asylum in Nepal, where she died on April 7, 1879. — PTI