Bhopal : a state is born

• The State of Bhopal was established by Dost Mohammed Khan, an Afghan soldier, in 1724.

Dost Md. Khan



• He rose to prominence by taking advantage of the disintegration of the Mughal Empire.
• This was when the predominantly Hindu city of Bhopal began to come under the influence of Islamic culture and architecture.
• Dost Mohammed Khan established his capital 10 km away from modern Bhopal, at Jagdishpur.
• He named it Islamnagar (meaning the city of Islam).
• He built a small fort and some palaces at Islamnagar. A part of the fort has been restored to its original glory only recently.
• After few years, he built a bigger fort on the northern bank of the Upper Lake.
• This new fort was named Fatehgarh (the fort of victory).
• Later on he shifted his capital to the current city of Bhopal.
• Though the ruler of Bhopal, he acknowledged the suzerainty of the declining Mughal Empire.
• His successors however, declared Bhopal as an independent State.
• His successors also acquired the title of "Nawab".
• In the 1730's the Hindu Marathas conquered several nearby states, including Indore and Gwalior.
• However, Dost Mohammed Khan's successors ensured that Bhopal remained a Muslim-ruled state under their leadership.



• In 1817, the British Government of India and the Nawab of Bhopal signed a treaty of dependence.
• Following the agreement, Bhopal remained a friend of the British Government till the time the Britishers ruled over India.
• In 1818, Bhopal became a princely State in British India.
• The Bhopal State included the present-day Bhopal, Raisen and Sehore districts.
• It was a part of the Central India Agency.
• Bhopal Agency was formed as an administrative section of Central India.
• In addition to Bhopal, the Bhopal Agency included some princely states to the northeast, including Khilchipur, Narsinhgarh, and Rajgarh.
• 1931 onwards, Dewas State was also included in Bhopal Agency.
• It was administered by an agent to the British Governor-General of India.