Born: 10 September 1817, India
Died: 30 October 1868
Country most active: India
Also known as: Sikandar
Her Highness Nawab Sikander Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal, GCSI ruled as the the Nawab of Bhopal from 1860 until her death in 1868. Initially appointed regent on behalf of her 9-year old daughter Shah Jahan Begum in 1844, she was recognized as nawab in 1860. She was made a Knight Grand Commander for her pro-British stance during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. In 1863, she became the first Indian ruler to perform the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj. Sikandar enacted many reforms in the state, including creating a mint, an administrative secretariat, a parliament and a modern judiciary.