Question

Look at the image given below and identify the queen who helped in the preservation of Sanchi Stupa :

• A. Sultan Jehan Begum
• B. Shahjehan Begum
• C. Sikandar Begum
• D. Qudsia Begum

Hint:

Sultan Jehan Begum later built a guest house at Sanchi for archaeologists like John Marshall. Sanchi is a UNESCO World Heritage site today largely due to the early efforts of the Bhopal dynasty.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:

• The conservation of the Sanchi Stupa in the 19th century was heavily dependent on the patronage of the rulers of Bhopal.
• These female rulers (Begums) were pioneers in heritage management and cultural preservation.

Step 1: Identifying the queen from the visual record
The portrait shown is of Shahjehan Begum, who ruled Bhopal from \(1868\) to \(1901\).
She was a visionary ruler who prioritized the maintenance of local historical monuments.

Step 2: Connecting the figure to the conservation project
Shahjehan Begum and her successor Sultan Jehan Begum provided the necessary funds to restore the Sanchi Stupa.
They funded the publication of scholarly works on the site and built the museum.
Crucially, they refused to let the original gateways be taken to Europe, offering plaster replicas instead, thus keeping the monument intact in its original location.