Bamba Sutherland
Encyclopedia
Princess Bamba Sutherland (1869–1957) 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 like
an alien in her father’s kingdom".
and his first wife Bamba Müller
. She was born on 29 September 1869 in London. She led an unusual life as her father (the ruler of the Punjab) had been brought to Britain as a child under the care of the East India Company
, after the close of the Second Anglo-Sikh War
and the subsequent annexation of the Punjab on 29 March 1849.
Bamba's future father was forcibly separated from his mother and brought up as a Christian. When Duleep returned from burying his mother in India he married an illegitimate girl who was working at a missionary school in Cairo
. He brought her back to England as his wife and they lived a life of luxury and were known to Queen Victoria. Bamba was their first daughter and was named after her mother, her maternal grandmother and her paternal grandmother respectively. The name "Bamba" means pink in Arabic.
Bamba's grandmother, Jindan Kaur, suffered a poor life in India after Bamba's father was taken from her. 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's ashes 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 but had to be placed in a memorial in Bombay.
Bamba lived at Elveden Hall
until her mother died from kidney failure. She and the rest of her brothers and sisters were placed in the care of Arthur Oliphant, who was her father's equerry. There she completed her schooling until she went to Somerville College at Oxford.
. Whilst with the princess, Marie Antionette met and married Umrao Singh Sher-Gil and they went to live in Hungary. A notable painter, Amrita Sher-Gil
, was the result. Bamba settled alone in Lahore and eventually married the Principal of King Edward Medical College in Lahore - Dr David Waters Sutherland.
In 1924 permission was finally given for her grandmother's ashes to be buried in Lahore
. It was Bamba who supervised their transfer from Bombay where they had been placed when her father visited India. Her grandmother had actually died in 1863, but it had taken a year to get permission for her body to be returned to India. This was apt as her father had met Bamba's mother in Cairo
on his way back from burying his mother's ashes. Bamba deposited the ashes in the memorial to Maharaja Ranjit Singh
, her great grandfather.
Sutherland was widowed in Lahore when her husband died in 1939. She was reported to dream of her former glory. She was the last survivor of a royal family who should have owned the Punjab. When she finally died it was said{ that her funeral was arranged by United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner in Lahore. Actually the quiet funeral with few guests was arranged by her secretary, Pir Karim Bakhsh Supra.
. It is known as the Princess Bamba Collection.
A translation of the Persian distich on her gravestone has been translated as:
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...
. She 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...
from her childhood in England where she was said to have "lived like
an alien in her father’s kingdom".
Life
Bamba Sofia Jindan Daleep Singh was the eldest daughter of Duleep Singh SukerchakiaDuleep 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...
and his first wife Bamba Müller
Bamba Müller
Maharani Bamba Duleep Singh born Bamba Müller 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...
. She was born on 29 September 1869 in London. She led an unusual life as her father (the ruler of the Punjab) had been brought to Britain as a child under the care of the East India Company
British East 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...
, after the close of the Second Anglo-Sikh War
Second Anglo-Sikh War
The Second Anglo-Sikh War took place in 1848 and 1849, between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company. It resulted in the subjugation of the Sikh Empire, and the annexation of the Punjab and what subsequently became the North-West Frontier Province by the East India Company.-Background...
and the subsequent annexation of the Punjab on 29 March 1849.
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...
. He brought her back to England as his wife and they lived a life of luxury and were known to Queen Victoria. Bamba was their first daughter and was named after her mother, her maternal grandmother and her paternal grandmother respectively. The name "Bamba" means pink in Arabic.
Bamba's grandmother, Jindan Kaur, suffered a poor life in India after Bamba's father was taken from her. 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's ashes 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 but had to be placed in a memorial in Bombay.
Bamba lived at Elveden Hall
Elveden 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....
until her mother died from kidney failure. She and the rest of her brothers and sisters were placed in the care of Arthur Oliphant, who was her father's equerry. There she completed her schooling until she went to Somerville College at Oxford.
India
When Bamba decided to visit India she placed an advertisement to hire a companion. The lady selected was a Hungarian, Marie Antoinette Gottesmann, who came from a noble family and had the cultural interests requested. The two of them made a number of visits to India settling in Lahore and ShimlaShimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
. Whilst with the princess, Marie Antionette met and married Umrao Singh Sher-Gil and they went to live in Hungary. A notable painter, Amrita Sher-Gil
Amrita Sher-Gil
Amrita Sher-Gil , was an eminent Indian painter, sometimes known as India's Frida Kahlo, and today considered an important woman painter of 20th century India, whose legacy stands at par with that of the Masters of Bengal Renaissance; she is also the 'most expensive' woman painter of India.-Early...
, was the result. Bamba settled alone in Lahore and eventually married the Principal of King Edward Medical College in Lahore - Dr David Waters Sutherland.
In 1924 permission was finally given for her grandmother's ashes 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...
. It was Bamba who supervised their transfer from Bombay where they had been placed when her father visited India. Her grandmother had actually died in 1863, but it had taken a year to get permission for her body to be returned to India. This was apt as her father had met Bamba's mother 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...
on his way back from burying his mother's ashes. Bamba deposited the ashes in the memorial to Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
, her great grandfather.
Sutherland was widowed in Lahore when her husband died in 1939. She was reported to dream of her former glory. She was the last survivor of a royal family who should have owned the Punjab. When she finally died it was said{ that her funeral was arranged by United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner in Lahore. Actually the quiet funeral with few guests was arranged by her secretary, Pir Karim Bakhsh Supra.
Legacy
Sutherland died on 10 March 1957. As the last surviving member of the dynasty, Bamba left a large quantity of important historical items to her secretary, Pir Karim Bakhsh Supra of Lahore. The collection consists of eighteen paintings, fourteen watercolours, 22 paintings on ivory and a number of photos and other articles. The collection was sold to the Pakistan government and it is kept in Lahore FortLahore Fort
The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila is citadel of the city of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Walled City of Lahore...
. It is known as the Princess Bamba Collection.
A translation of the Persian distich on her gravestone has been translated as:
- The difference between royalty and servility vanishes
- The moment the writing of destiny is encountered
- If one opens the grave of a dead
- None would be able to discern rich from poor