Between 1819 and 1926 four Muslim women rulers reigned over Bhopal, the second largest Muslim state of India. They received staunch opposition from powerful neighbours and male claimants in India. The British East India Company, under Queen Victoria, also opposed female rule in Bhopal until the Begums quoted the Queen as their model and inspiration.

Through the first objective history of Bhopal, Shaharyar M. Khan discusses the Begums’ policies in their relations with the British and provides a fascinating account of British imperial relations within India.