Bamba Müller
Encyclopedia
Maharani Bamba Duleep Singh born Bamba Müller (July 6, 1848 – September 18, 1887) was the wife of Maharaja Duleep Singh
. Brought up by Christian missionaries, she married Duleep Singh and became Maharani Bamba, wife of the last Maharaja of Lahore. Her transformation from illegitimate girl living in a Cairo mission to a Maharani living a life of luxury with the "Black Prince of Perthshire" has been compared to the "Cinderella
" story.
of Abyssinia
n descent called Sofia. The name Bamba was Arabic for pink. Her father already had a wife and he therefore placed his illegitimate daughter in the care of missionaries in Cairo
. Her father had requested and paid for her education and he was still in contact with the missionaries. Müller became an enthusiastic and charismatic member of the Christian community and was the only female in a select group of communicants at the American Presbyterian Mission
school in Cairo.
on condition that he complied with the will of the British Government. Duleep had been taken to Britain when a child and raised as a Christian. This was after he had been persuaded to agree to British rule of the Punjab
. He had also agreed to give away the Koh-i-Nor diamond and been separated from his mother, Maharani Jindan Kaur. His mother suffered a poor life in India and eventually she was allowed to rejoin her son in England. Duleep collected her after special permission was given. Duleep was allowed by the British to visit India for the second time to bury his mother after she died in Britain, although the body had to remain at Kensal Green Cemetery
for nearly a year whilst this was agreed. His mother's ashes were not allowed to be buried in Lahore
(the main city of the Punjab), but had to be placed in a memorial in Bombay.
Duleep Singh wrote to the teachers at the missionary school at the end of the month in the hope that they would recommend a wife for him as he was to live in Britain and he wanted a Christian wife of Eastern origin. Queen Victoria had told Duleep that he should marry an Indian princess who had been educated in England, but he desired a girl with less sophistication. The final proposal had to be done via an intermediary as Duleep did not speak Arabic, Müller's only language. The missionaries discussed this proposal with Müller. She was unsure whether to accept the proposal offered via the missionaries. Her first ambition was to rise to teach children in a missionary school. Her father was consulted but he left the choice to his daughter. Müller eventually made her decision after praying for guidance. She decided that the marriage was God's call for her to widen her ambitions. Singh made a substantial contribution of one thousand pounds to the school and married Müller on 7 June 1864 in the British Consulate in Alexandria, Egypt. The ceremony was described as brief, with few witnesses. Both of them wore European dress apart from Duleep, who wore a turban. Bamba wore simple jewellery including pearls. She had a short sleeved, moire, antique dress, orange blossoms in her hair, and a veil. The Prince made his vows in English, whilst Bamba spoke in Arabic.
in Suffolk
, England. Her six children were: Victor Albert Jay
(1866–1918), Frederick Victor
(1868–1926), Bamba Sophia Jindan
(1869–1957), Catherina Hilda (1871–1942), Sophia Alexdrowna
(1876–1948), and Albert Edward Alexander (1879–1893).
Victor and Frederick both joined the British Army whilst Frederick became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
. One of her daughters, Bamba Sophia Jindan, returned to Lahore
as the wife of a Dr Sutherland. She was known as Princess Bamba Sutherland. The other two daughters were named Catherine and Sophia.
In 1886 her husband resolved to return to India. On his way there he was arrested in Aden
and forced to return to Europe. Bamba died on September 18, 1887 and was buried at Elveden
. Her husband went on to marry again in 1889 to Ada Douglas Wetherill and had two more children.
Her son Albert Edward Alexander Duleep Singh died aged thirteen in Hastings on May 1, 1893 and was buried next to his mother. When Bamba's husband died, his body has brought back to England and buried with his wife and son at Elveden
.
Duleep Singh
This article is about Maharaja Dalip Singh. For other uses, see Dalip SinghMaharaja Dalip Singh, GCSI , commonly called Duleep Singh and later in life nicknamed the Black Prince of Perthshire, was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire...
. Brought up by Christian missionaries, she married Duleep Singh and became Maharani Bamba, wife of the last Maharaja of Lahore. Her transformation from illegitimate girl living in a Cairo mission to a Maharani living a life of luxury with the "Black Prince of Perthshire" has been compared to the "Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
" story.
Life
Bamba Müller was the daughter of Ludwig Müller, a German merchant banker with the company Todd Müller and Co., by his mistressMistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of Abyssinia
Abyssinia
Abyssinia may refer to:* Ethiopia, the modern nation* Ethiopian Empire, a historical nation* SS Abyssinia, 1870 Canadian Pacific steamship* HMS Abyssinia , British armoured ship* Abyssinia * Abyssinia...
n descent called Sofia. The name Bamba was Arabic for pink. Her father already had a wife and he therefore placed his illegitimate daughter in the care of missionaries in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. Her father had requested and paid for her education and he was still in contact with the missionaries. Müller became an enthusiastic and charismatic member of the Christian community and was the only female in a select group of communicants at the American Presbyterian Mission
American Presbyterian Mission
American Presbyterian Mission was an American Presbyterian missionary society, operated by the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, that was involved in sending workers to countries such as China during the late Qing Dynasty and to India in nineteenth century...
school in Cairo.
The Prince
Duleep Singh had been the last ruler of the Sikh empire before he was dethroned by the British. In 1863 he was being supervised in Britain where he was a friend of Queen Victoria. He was known as the "Black Prince of Perthshire" around his home in Scotland. He was given money by the East India CompanyEast India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
on condition that he complied with the will of the British Government. Duleep had been taken to Britain when a child and raised as a Christian. This was after he had been persuaded to agree to British rule of the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
. He had also agreed to give away the Koh-i-Nor diamond and been separated from his mother, Maharani Jindan Kaur. His mother suffered a poor life in India and eventually she was allowed to rejoin her son in England. Duleep collected her after special permission was given. Duleep was allowed by the British to visit India for the second time to bury his mother after she died in Britain, although the body had to remain at Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
for nearly a year whilst this was agreed. His mother's ashes were not allowed to be buried in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
(the main city of the Punjab), but had to be placed in a memorial in Bombay.
The proposal
On his return from Bombay Duleep passed through Cairo and visited the missionaries there on 10 February 1864. He visited again a few days later and was taken around the girls' school, where he first met Bamba Müller, who was an instructor. She was the only girl there who had committed herself to a Christian life. On each visit Duleep made presents to the mission of several hundreds of pounds.Duleep Singh wrote to the teachers at the missionary school at the end of the month in the hope that they would recommend a wife for him as he was to live in Britain and he wanted a Christian wife of Eastern origin. Queen Victoria had told Duleep that he should marry an Indian princess who had been educated in England, but he desired a girl with less sophistication. The final proposal had to be done via an intermediary as Duleep did not speak Arabic, Müller's only language. The missionaries discussed this proposal with Müller. She was unsure whether to accept the proposal offered via the missionaries. Her first ambition was to rise to teach children in a missionary school. Her father was consulted but he left the choice to his daughter. Müller eventually made her decision after praying for guidance. She decided that the marriage was God's call for her to widen her ambitions. Singh made a substantial contribution of one thousand pounds to the school and married Müller on 7 June 1864 in the British Consulate in Alexandria, Egypt. The ceremony was described as brief, with few witnesses. Both of them wore European dress apart from Duleep, who wore a turban. Bamba wore simple jewellery including pearls. She had a short sleeved, moire, antique dress, orange blossoms in her hair, and a veil. The Prince made his vows in English, whilst Bamba spoke in Arabic.
Family
The couple had three sons and three daughters whom they brought up at Elveden HallElveden Hall
Elveden Hall is a large privately owned house overlooking the large Elveden Estate in Elveden, Suffolk, England. It is located centrally to the village and is close to the A11 and the Parish Church....
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England. Her six children were: Victor Albert Jay
Victor Duleep Singh
Prince Victor Albert Jay Duleep Singh was the eldest son of Maharani Bamba Müller and Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of Lahore, and of the Sikh Empire, and the grandson of Maharaja Ranjit Singh .-Biography:...
(1866–1918), Frederick Victor
Frederick Duleep Singh
Prince Frederick Victor Duleep Singh MVO, TD, FSA , also known as Prince Freddy, was a younger son of Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Life and education:...
(1868–1926), Bamba Sophia Jindan
Bamba Sutherland
Princess Bamba Sutherland was the last member of the family that ruled the Sikh Empire in the Punjab. She returned to Lahore from her childhood in England where she was said to have "lived likean alien in her father’s kingdom".-Life:...
(1869–1957), Catherina Hilda (1871–1942), Sophia Alexdrowna
Sophia Duleep Singh
Princess Sophia Alexandra Duleep Singh was a prominent suffragette in the United Kingdom...
(1876–1948), and Albert Edward Alexander (1879–1893).
Victor and Frederick both joined the British Army whilst Frederick became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
. One of her daughters, Bamba Sophia Jindan, returned to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
as the wife of a Dr Sutherland. She was known as Princess Bamba Sutherland. The other two daughters were named Catherine and Sophia.
In 1886 her husband resolved to return to India. On his way there he was arrested in Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
and forced to return to Europe. Bamba died on September 18, 1887 and was buried at Elveden
Elveden
Elveden is a village and civil parish in the Forest Heath district of Suffolk in eastern England. In 2005 it had a population of 270.The village is located on the A11 between Cambridge and Norwich and experiences a high volume of traffic...
. Her husband went on to marry again in 1889 to Ada Douglas Wetherill and had two more children.
Her son Albert Edward Alexander Duleep Singh died aged thirteen in Hastings on May 1, 1893 and was buried next to his mother. When Bamba's husband died, his body has brought back to England and buried with his wife and son at Elveden
Elveden
Elveden is a village and civil parish in the Forest Heath district of Suffolk in eastern England. In 2005 it had a population of 270.The village is located on the A11 between Cambridge and Norwich and experiences a high volume of traffic...
.