| Mehrunissa Khan is a Princess, born from unofficial third queen of the Nawab of Rampur & was brought up in 14 palaces of Rampur (princely state, now in Uttar Pradesh, India). Most of her childhood days were spent being part of grand lunches and dinners among 100's of Guests and prominent personalities including Pandit Jawarhal Lal Nehru and others. Like many princess in India she too was married and had two children. It would have been a normal life like most women have in India, but that was not destined to her. She opted divorce and had to give up the custody of her children. She was not allowed to meet or see her two children aged 5 and 3 then. A mother who nurished 9 months a child in her womb with her blood was not allowed now to see them ever. Irony it is! As I learned from the interview, she migrated to London then. Here she met and fell in love with a Pakistani Group Captain Rahim Khan. Soon she got married and lived in Pakistan, giving up her country and substancial inheritance in India. Rahim Khan was made Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Air Force, second in charge to the President. With this marriage she realised her dreams of travelling all over the globe, lived a comfortable luxirious life, meeting various dignitaries from Kings and Shahs, attending official parties etc. etc. But not much, things went bad between the Air force commander, her husband and President Bhutto, and the family had to take political asylum in the US, having there absolutely no money or support. Her family could not bear this. Husband went into deep depression and turned alcholic and their son into drugs. Her love died later during a kidney transplant and the son in a car accident at the age of 23. She a born fighter, bounced back into life, this time teaching Urdu and Hindi at the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington DC. Though she lives in debts and a morgaged house now, her zeal for life is still alive. In her own words, "I can make things move. I don't give up easily." At 75, she still likes to dance, wants to study further & learn classical music. She wrote her autobiography "An Extraordinary life :Princess Mehrunissa of Rampur" & said with this, "My idea is to share with all women that one can do what one wants." There is always lessons to be learned while encountering such personalities & I too learned many from this interview. Life is certainly unpredictable!! It has mysteries and miseries at every corner. It is you to discover how you would like to honor it. To me best option is: Love to live! |
