The nawab of Murshidabad was known for his glory. Earlier, he used to travel with elephants, horses, and an army, but today his only companion is a bicycle.
Murshidabad was once called the city of Nawabs. One of the many nawabs today is Syed Reza Ali Mirza and is one of the oldest members of the family.
He is better known as Chhote nawab in Murshidabad district and is the descendant of Mir Jafar, the commander-in-chief of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah’s army.
Chhote Nawab Reza Ali Mirza was born in Begum Mahal of Lalbagh city. Although today the mahal stands in ruins with some broken buildings, big patches all around.
Once the area was covered with lush green and lively gardens. Mirza grew in the palace but today he spends his days being an ordinary man.
At present, Chhote Nawab Reza Ali Mirza establish his relations with people by riding a bicycle rather than a cart. He lives with his family (wife, son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter) in a two-storey house in a corner of the city.
There are many stories surrounding the family of nawabs and Mirza has shared the one.
The story claims that the East India Company sided with Mir Jafar to secure the nawab’s loss during the Battle of Plassey, which took place in 1757 between the British and Siraj-ud-Daulah.
Because of his alliance with the French, Siraj-ud-Daulah was targeted for defeat by the English. Whereas Siraj-ud-Daulah’s army numbered over fifty thousand, the East India Company’s had roughly three thousand.
However, Mir Jafar’s greatest asset to the British was presumably his ability to keep the nawab’s troops at bay, giving the English army the upper hand in the conflict.
The final independent nawab of Bengal, Siraj, was soon apprehended and put to death. When British India came to power, Mir Jafar became the first nawab, however his name is now associated with traitors of all faith.
This impression of Mir Jafar infuriates Chhote Nawab, who labels it a distortion of history. He said, “This is most unfair. The British have called him a traitor. All the history books have been written by the British, including this incorrect version,” Mirza told News18. “Mir Jafar was not a traitor. If he were, do you think we would have been allowed to be around?”
Mirza was earlier working in Hazarduari area but now he is not getting any pension. His son is currently employed with a high school as a head teacher.
Chhote Nawab Reza Ali Mirza told News 18 Bangla, “Now we don’t get any government allowance, which has been appealed repeatedly. There are several cases going on which are pending in court. An application has been made to the Central Government, Archaeological Survey of India. Earlier I used to work as a care taker. I have managed the family very hard. Currently, my child is the head teacher of the high school.”
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